Lebanon, Israel agree shortlist for Hezbollah disarmament monitors
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Lebanon and Israel agreed on a shortlist of countries that could deploy troops to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament under a U.S.-brokered agreement, a Lebanese official said on Friday.
The official, speaking to Reuters, said the United States will select one or more countries from the shortlist but did not disclose their names or the number of countries involved.
The shortlist was agreed during meetings between Lebanese and Israeli officials at the U.S. embassy in Rome this week, as part of talks on implementing a June 26 agreement linking Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Lebanon to the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, which is not party to the agreement, has rejected calls to surrender its weapons.
The Lebanese official said Beirut had also rejected an earlier proposal to use private security companies to monitor the group’s disarmament, insisting that any third-party monitors must be countries.
The official said discussions are still needed on the number of foreign troops, their deployment and coordination with the Lebanese Army.
The United States and Israel are also considering a new UN Security Council resolution to establish a framework for the foreign force, potentially under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate expires at the end of 2026.
The talks did not reach agreement on the next area for Israeli withdrawal. Another round is expected in early September, according to the Lebanese official.