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Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has revealed that Lebanon will not entertain any demands to relocate Hezbollah north of the Litani River, calling for a complete solution to the ongoing conflict rather than “partial solutions.”
In an interview with Nida al-Watan, Bou Habib emphasized, “Western countries demand the retreat of Hezbollah for about eight to ten kilometers north of Litani. This is a formula that Lebanon rejects.” He further expressed Lebanon’s firm stance on seeking a comprehensive resolution that ensures lasting peace and stability, thereby preventing recurrent conflicts.
Bou Habib highlighted Lebanon’s insistence on fully implementing UN Resolution 1701, which was established post the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah war to, among other directives, respect the Blue Line border delineated by the UN in 2000. The Foreign Minister also articulated Lebanon’s demands for the liberation of Shebaa Farms and the Kfarchouba hills, areas under contention, stating, “Lebanon will only accept a complete solution to all border issues with Israel, and half solutions do not work and will not [be accepted].” Moreover, he called for Israel to cease its “air, land, and sea violations” that have surpassed 30,000 since 2006.
Tensions have escalated as Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned earlier this week that “time is running out” for a diplomatic resolution with Lebanon, hinting at a potential military response to secure Israeli towns along the Lebanese border. This statement comes amidst reports of over 230,000 Israelis evacuating due to Hezbollah operations. In response, US special envoy Amos Hochstein has engaged in discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to explore de-escalation strategies, including the repositioning of Hezbollah forces and bolstering UN and Lebanese army presence in the border area.
Despite these tensions, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah remains defiant, saying, “we don’t fear war, and there are no talks before the war on Gaza ends.”
