**Israeli forces maintain positions in southern Lebanon, including areas north of the Litani River and an expanded buffer zone, under a June 2026 US-brokered framework agreement that ties any phased redeployment to verifiable Lebanese Armed Forces control and Hezbollah disarmament.** The deal established limited pilot zones for initial, conditions-based withdrawals—one north of the Litani and others south—but progress has been slow, with implementation delayed and further talks postponed until October. Recent statements from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir emphasize that operations continue to prevent Hezbollah rebuilding south of the Litani, that disarmament cannot advance without a more effective Lebanese army, and that Israel will hold defensive positions as long as threats persist. Hezbollah has rejected the framework, ongoing strikes continue, and no fixed timetable governs full withdrawal. Trader sentiment reflects these barriers, with low implied probabilities for near-term full pullback beyond the pilot areas.