Jerusalem/Beirut, June 25 -- Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials on Thursday denied reports that there had been any withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of southern Lebanon, after claims by a US official that the move was intended as a goodwill gesture amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
Israeli and Lebanese delegations have been meeting in Washington this week to discuss a proposal that would see the Israeli military withdraw from limited "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon and transfer control of those areas to the Lebanese Armed Forces, with the aim of preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence there.
However, sources familiar with the talks told The Times of Israel that the latest round of talks have been...