Israeli officials have tied any broader withdrawal of forces from positions beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon to verifiable disarmament of Hezbollah and effective control by the Lebanese Armed Forces, per the June 2026 U.S.-brokered framework agreement establishing pilot zones for phased redeployment. Recent statements from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir emphasize that the campaign continues, with forward defensive positions maintained to prevent Hezbollah rebuilding south of the river, absent demonstrated Lebanese army improvements. Defense Minister statements have ruled out fixed timelines for exit from the security zone. Implementation of the two pilot zones—one north and one south of the Litani—has faced reported delays, with Israeli forces retaining most occupied territory as of mid-September 2026. Trader sentiment reflects these conditions-based terms and limited progress on disarmament benchmarks.