JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his approval of the Lebanese cabinet’s important decision earlier this month to aim for the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025, suggesting it might pave the way for Israeli troops to exit the region.

He emphasized that if Lebanon adequately addresses the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel would reciprocate by gradually reducing its military presence in southern Lebanon.

Following the conclusion of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November, marked by a U.S.-mediated ceasefire, Hezbollah representatives have stated that the group will not consider disarmament unless Israel relinquishes control over five strategic areas within Lebanon and ceases nearly daily airstrikes that have resulted in numerous casualties, predominantly among Hezbollah members.

The Lebanese government is under U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah, a faction that recently engaged in a 14-month conflict with Israel, suffering significant losses, including many of its leaders.

Hezbollah’s leadership has firmly refused to disarm, asserting that the government’s plan to eliminate the Iran-backed group’s weapons by year’s end aligns with Israeli objectives.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of attempting to restore its military strength, pointing out that the five contested locations in Lebanon serve as strategic viewpoints or are positioned near northern Israeli communities, where roughly 60,000 Israelis were forced to evacuate during the conflict.

Since the war ended, Hezbollah has withdrawn most of its fighters and weapons from the area along the border with Israel south of the Litani river.

The ceasefire agreement it vague how Hezbollah’s weapons and military facilities north of the Litani river should be treated, saying Lebanese authorities should dismantle unauthorized facilities starting with the area south of the river.

Hezbollah maintains that the deal only covers the area south of the Litani, while Israel and the U.S. say it mandates disarmament of the group throughout Lebanon.

The Israel-Hezbollah war started a day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack against Israel from Gaza. It left more than 4,000 people dead and caused damage worth $11 billion.