ISRAEL’S Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that his forces could reduce their presence from occupied southern Lebanon after the Lebanese cabinet’s “momentous decision” earlier this month to work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Mr Netanyahu said that if Lebanon takes the necessary steps to disarm Hezbollah, then Israel will respond with reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon it has illegally occupied.

Since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024 with a United States-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah officials have said the group will not discuss its disarmament until Israel withdraws from five hills it controls inside Lebanon and stops almost daily air strikes that have killed or wounded hundreds of people.

There was no immediate response by Lebanese authorities to Mr Netanyahu’s statement.

Hezbollah’s leadership has vowed not to disarm, saying the national government’s decision to seek its disarmament by the end of the year only serves Israel’s interests.

This comes a day after Israel launched air attacks on Sanaa, the capital of the Houthi-led Yemeni government.

The Yemenis said that multiple areas across Sanaa were hit, while its health ministry said at least six people were killed and 86 others were wounded, seven of them in critical condition.

The Al-Masirah satellite television station reported that a strike hit an oil facility owned by the country’s main oil company, which is controlled by the rebels, and video on social media showed a fireball erupting at the plant.

Israel’s military said that it struck the Asar oil facility and the Hizaz power plant, which it called “a significant electricity supply facility for military activities,” along with a military site near the presidential palace.

The latest strikes follow the Houthis’ claim of launching a newly equipped missile toward Israel on Friday, targeting the country’s largest airport, Ben Gurion.

There was no reported damage or any injuries from the attack.