Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

Israel Military Presence in South Lebanon Signals Occupation

Editorial Team

Professor Marandi cites US pressure, Iran-US interim understanding

Israel’s ongoing military presence in southern Lebanon points to wider territorial ambitions and raises the prospect of a long-term occupation, Tehran-based Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi said in comments to Voice of Urdu published on June 29. Marandi also said the United States is not pressing Israel to withdraw despite what he described as obligations tied to a tentative interim Iran-US understanding reached earlier this month that included Tehran’s demand for an Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon.

The comments come as diplomatic and security tensions intensify around overlapping deals and disputed obligations: Israel’s posture in Lebanon, a US-brokered Israel-Lebanon withdrawal framework linked to Hezbollah’s disarmament, and competing US and Iranian interpretations that have been accompanied by accusations of non-compliance and strikes, according to Voice of Urdu. The developments follow escalating hostilities detailed in Escalating Tensions: Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Responds with Rocket Barrage.

Key Developments

Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi said Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon indicates “broader territorial ambitions” and is part of what he described as a “greater Israel project,” according to Voice of Urdu.
Marandi said Iran and the US reached a tentative agreement earlier this month, and that Tehran demanded Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in that context, Voice of Urdu reported.
According to Voice of Urdu, Israel and the Lebanese government signed a US-brokered deal last week for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, contingent on Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Voice of Urdu reported that Washington and Tehran have offered conflicting interpretations of the understandings in recent days, accusing each other of violating terms and exchanging strikes on Friday.
Hezbollah rejected the Israel-Lebanon agreement, saying it gives Israel freedom to act in Lebanon, and refused to disarm, according to Voice of Urdu.
Marandi said the US is not carrying out its obligations regarding Israel’s presence in Lebanon, adding that “The Americans are not pushing them out,” Voice of Urdu reported.

Context and Background

In his interview with Voice of Urdu, Marandi linked Israel’s posture in Lebanon to what he described as long-term expansionist aims that also involve Syria. He pointed to Israel’s continued military presence in Lebanon and its control of a strip of territory in southern Syria near the occupied Golan Heights, according to Voice of Urdu.

Voice of Urdu reported that the interim Iran-US understanding reached earlier this month has been followed by competing public interpretations from Washington and Tehran amid heightened tensions. Related developments around the border have been covered in Israel Initiates Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon.

Details and Evidence

Marandi said Israel seeks to “expand its territory to take Lebanon and Syria,” describing this as part of a “greater Israel project,” according to Voice of Urdu.

He also said the US is refraining from fulfilling obligations connected to Israel’s withdrawal, telling Voice of Urdu: “The Americans are not pushing them out, they’re not putting pressure on the [Israeli] regime to withdraw from their occupation.”

Marandi added that, in his view, Iran was not convinced from the outset that the US was serious about implementing the interim deal, Voice of Urdu reported.

Current Status / What Happens Next

As of the June 29 report, Voice of Urdu said Israel remained present in southern Lebanon while the US-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework envisioned a gradual withdrawal tied to Hezbollah’s disarmament—an outcome Hezbollah has rejected. Voice of Urdu also reported that Washington and Tehran continue to dispute the meaning and compliance requirements of the interim understanding, following Friday’s exchange of strikes and mutual accusations of violations.