Lebanon rejects claims that Israel has withdrawn from parts of south | The National

Stray dogs walk past the rubble of homes and businesses destroyed by the Israeli military in the southern Lebanese village of Tibnin. AFPStray dogs walk past the rubble of homes and businesses destroyed by the Israeli military in the southern Lebanese village of Tibnin. AFPIsrael and Lebanon discussing US-backed 'pilot zone scheme' to transfer territory

Lebanon has rejected Israeli claims of withdrawal from southern territory, with a senior security official saying troops "come and go."

Israel and Lebanon are discussing a US-backed "pilot zone scheme" to transfer occupied Lebanese territory to the Lebanese military.

A senior Israeli defence official confirmed the military would not withdraw from its self-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Five rounds of Washington negotiations have failed to produce a durable ceasefire, with more than 4,000 people killed since early March.