Israel has pulled back from part of its buffer zone in southern LebanonIsraeli pullback is an act of "good faith" toward Lebanon's governmentLebanese armed forces should now move into the area from which Israel withdrewIsrael has withdrawn from part of its self-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon in what a US official described as a gesture of “good faith” toward the Lebanese government, marking a potentially important step in efforts to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon front. The partial pullback comes under a US-backed framework aimed at reducing tensions along the border.The move is especially significant because continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon had increasingly threatened the fragile US-Iran ceasefire. The ceasefire was intended to cool multiple flashpoints across the Middle East, including Lebanon. However, repeated Israeli strikes and the continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon fuelled Iranian criticism and raised fears that the truce could unravel. Tehran has repeatedly argued that any lasting regional de-escalation requires Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Israel’s limited withdrawal appears designed to ease those concerns without fully abandoning its security posture. Israeli officials continue to insist that the buffer zone remains necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from future cross-border attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained a hard line, arguing that Israeli forces cannot fully leave until there are credible guarantees that Hezbollah will not re-establish positions near the frontier. This balancing act reflects Israel’s attempt to satisfy US diplomatic pressure while preserving military leverage on the ground. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.