JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli political and military officials on Thursday denied a report according to which the Israeli army had withdrawn from part of the "security zone" it holds in southern Lebanon, Israel's Channel 12 News reported.
The denials came after a U.S. State Department official earlier in the day told Reuters that Israel had pulled back from part of its buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
"Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone. This is a significant demonstration of good faith toward Lebanon's legitimate government," the U.S. official told the British news agency.
An Israeli security official told Israel's state-owned Kan TV News that the Israeli army had not yet withdrawn from anywhere in the Israeli "security zone" in Lebanon, adding that the army had not received instructions on the matter from the political echelon.
On Monday, Israeli leaders said the Israeli military will continue to act to neutralize "threats" in southern Lebanon, even with ongoing diplomatic efforts to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks and de-escalate regional tensions. ■
