Lebanon’s PM urges timetable for Israeli withdrawal as Hezbollah slams deal

What the report says

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is seeking a clear schedule for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory, according to an Al Jazeera report published on August 14, 2026. The talks are part of a US-backed framework involving Lebanon, Israel and American mediators, and come amid continued fighting and tensions in southern Lebanon.

Salam discussed the military side of the negotiation process in Beirut with US Ambassador Michel Issa and General Joseph Clearfield, who leads a US military coordination group for Lebanon. His office said he pressed for an end to Israeli destruction, a broader pilot area in the south and a defined timetable for withdrawal. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also met the US officials separately and said Israel had not stopped attacks or violations, including village demolitions and damage to farmland and heritage sites.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem sharply criticized the government’s approach, saying it was exposing the Lebanese army to risk and pressure by engaging in what he described as a flawed agreement. He argued that Israel has continued strikes and demolitions even in areas where the Lebanese army is present, and challenged officials to show concrete results from several rounds of talks. Issa said the negotiations were constructive and would continue, while also saying Israeli attacks would end only if Hezbollah disarms.

Al Jazeera noted that the framework includes Hezbollah’s disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal, but the two sides remain far apart. The next round of talks is expected in early September, as Israeli forces continue to hold positions in parts of southern Lebanon.