A Hezbollah flag flies over rubble in Sour, southern Lebanon, on June 23, 2026. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
BEIRUT — The commander of Iran's Quds Force, Esmaeil Qaani, said Thursday that Israel must withdraw from all Lebanese territory it occupies "of its own accord" or face military defeat, according to Iranian state media cited by Reuters.
"Israel must leave all Lebanese territory voluntarily, otherwise it will be forced to flee under the weight of defeat," Qaani said.
His remarks come as Tehran has made the Lebanese file a central issue in its negotiations with the United States, while Lebanon and Israel continue separate U.S.-mediated talks focused on the cease-fire and a possible Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Last week, the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement ending hostilities across several regional fronts, including Lebanon. The agreement states that both sides are committed to guaranteeing Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iranian officials have interpreted that commitment as requiring a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The issue is also at the center of discussions currently taking place in Washington between Lebanese, Israeli and American officials. Negotiators are examining a proposal involving the creation of "pilot zones" from which Israeli troops would withdraw in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese Army.
Qaani's comments follow confusion surrounding reports of an initial Israeli withdrawal from part of the occupied area in southern Lebanon. A U.S. State Department official said earlier this week that Israel had already withdrawn from part of its self-declared "buffer zone" a ''goodwill'' gesture toward the Lebanese government.
However, both Israeli and Lebanese officials quickly denied that any such withdrawal had taken place. Lebanese military sources said developments on the ground showed "exactly the opposite of a withdrawal," while Israeli officials insisted the army had not left any positions inside the occupied zone.
Israel currently occupies more than 620 square kilometers of Lebanese territory along the border, according to Lebanese officials. The future of that area remains one of the most contentious issues in ongoing negotiations over the implementation of the cease-fire.
