Trump says he expects Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon

Ankara: U.S. President ​Donald Trump said on Wednesday that ​he thought Israel would withdraw troops from southern Lebanon because it wanted to take that ‌step, despite comments ⁠from ⁠Israel's leader indicating otherwise.

Trump told reporters ​at the NATO Summit in Ankara that he ​had discussed a withdrawal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Yeah, I think they're ​going to. I think ⁠they want ‌to," Trump said.

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"So we have ​a ​deal with Israel and ⁠Lebanon. Yeah, they'll leave. And I think it's ​going to work out very ​well."

Netanyahu visited Lebanese territory occupied by the Israeli military last week, telling soldiers that Israel would not withdraw from the country's south as ‌long as Iran-backed Hezbollah continued to pose a threat.

The Israeli ​and Lebanese ​governments on ⁠June 26 reached a security agreement mediated by the United States under which Israel will ​hand over two areas to Lebanon's army.