Hezbollah withdrawal from border area near Israel could pave way for gas deal

Israel, Lebanon yet to resolve maritime border dispute holding up exploration

Hezbollah's withdrawal from a border area near Israel could pave the way for a deal on maritime borders that would allow Lebanon to exploit gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, analysts say.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday (June 19) that his group had withdrawn from an area near the village of Metula in northern Israel, where it had been accused of preparing to attack Israeli targets.

The move came after Israel and Lebanon reached a US-brokered ceasefire in May that ended 11 days of fighting between the two sides.

Analysts say Hezbollah's withdrawal could help pave the way for a deal on maritime borders that would allow Lebanon to exploit gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Israel and Lebanon have been disputing their maritime border for years, with Israel claiming a larger share of the area than Lebanon.

The dispute has held up exploration for gas in the area, which is believed to contain significant reserves.

A deal on the maritime border would allow Lebanon to begin exploiting its gas reserves, which could help boost its economy and reduce its reliance on imported energy.

However, it is not clear if Hezbollah's withdrawal from the border area will be enough to pave the way for a deal.

Israel has said that it will not negotiate with Hezbollah, and it is unclear if Lebanon will be able to control Hezbollah's activities in the border area.