Netanyahu offers 'phased' withdrawal if Lebanon disarms Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel was ready to back Lebanon's efforts to disarm Hezbollah and offered "a phased" pullout of its troops if Lebanon followed through with plans to seize the group's weapons.

"Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations," said Netanyahu, according to a statement released by his office.

Israel also acknowledged "the significant step taken by the Lebanese government," according to the statement.

If the Lebanese government follows through with the plan, Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to "engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF (military) presence in coordination with the U.S.-led security mechanism."

Following the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah last year, the Lebanese Army has been deploying in the country's south and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there.

Lebanon has been grappling with the thorny issue of disarming Hezbollah, with the cabinet this month tasking the army with developing a plan to do so by the end of the year.

Despite the November ceasefire that ended the war, Israel has continued to strike Lebanon, saying it will do so until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Israeli forces also continue to occupy five areas of the south that they deem strategic.

Hezbollah, the only faction that kept its weapons after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel.

Earlier this month, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem promised to push back against the Lebanese government's plans to disarm his group.

Last week, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack called on Israel to honor commitments under a ceasefire that ended its war with Hezbollah.

"There's always a step-by-step approach but I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply," Barrack said during meetings with Lebanese officials in Beirut.

He met Sunday in Israel with Netanyahu regarding the Trump administration’s request that Israel restrain its strikes in Lebanon, as well as about the negotiations with Syria, three Israeli and U.S. sources told U.S. news portal Axios.

“The Trump administration is pushing simultaneously for the implementation of new security arrangements between Israel and Lebanon and between Israel and Syria as a first step toward a potential future normalization of relations,” Axios reported.

U.S. officials also told the news portal that in light of the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel “has an interest in calming the situation on its borders with Syria and Lebanon and reaching new agreements with both countries.”