Israel Hostage Return and Lebanon Troop Withdrawal

Israel has confirmed that it will return the bodies of four hostages from Gaza and expects the release of six living captives as part of ongoing negotiations with Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli troops have withdrawn from most of southern Lebanon in line with a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah but have maintained a presence in five strategic positions. Lebanon considers any remaining Israeli presence a violation of its sovereignty and has threatened to escalate the matter to the UN Security Council. The Israeli government insists that these positions are necessary for security reasons until Lebanon fully implements the ceasefire terms. Lebanese forces have started deploying in areas vacated by Israel, and the situation remains tense as displaced residents return to heavily damaged villages. Both the UN and U.S. brokered the truce, aiming to stabilize the region after prolonged hostilities.