Israel in talks with US over continuing its Lebanon troop deployment, officials say

Israel is negotiating with the US to continue its troop deployment in southern Lebanon, amid a sensitive discussion on the country's "buffer zones" with its enemies.

​Israel is holding negotiations with the ​U.S. as it seeks to ‌continue ​its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon, two Israeli officials including a senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin ‌Netanyahu told Reuters on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, made the comments a day after the U.S. and Iran signed ‌an interim pact that calls for parties to ensure "the territorial integrity and sovereignty ‌of Lebanon." Israel expanded its invasion of southern Lebanon after the Lebanese militia Hezbollah opened fire at Israel on March 2 in support of its ally Iran. It has since staged a devastating ⁠air and ​ground campaign that ⁠it says aims at rooting out Hezbollah.

Israel describes the territory it has seized in Lebanon, Gaza ⁠and Syria as "buffer zones" between it and its enemies, a core facet of Israel's recent ​security policy. Netanyahu has rejected calls for Israel to withdraw from those territories. The ⁠senior Israeli official told Reuters that Israel was "conducting stubborn negotiations" with Washington over continuing its deployment ⁠of ​troops in southern Lebanon.

The official said Israel would not back down on its positions, including keeping troops deployed in the area south of Lebanon's Litani ⁠River. A second Israeli official told Reuters that the outcome of the talks would ultimately depend ⁠on whether ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump "decides to force the issue" by threatening repercussions if Israel does not abide by the interim Iran pact's terms.

Netanyahu's ‌office did ‌not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting ​by Rami Ayyub)