Israel offers phased withdrawal if Hezbollah disarms

Seeks to 'engage in reciprocal measures, including reduction of its military'

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said Israel was ready to back Lebanon's efforts to disarm Hezbollah and offered “a phased” pullout of its troops if Beirut followed its plans to seize the group’s weapons.

Following the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah last year, the Lebanese army has been deploying in the country’s south and dismantling the militant group’s infrastructure there.