Lebanon and Israel Agree on Shortlist of Nations to Verify Hezbollah Disarmament
Lebanese officials said a US-brokered meeting in Rome produced a shortlist of countries whose troops could verify Hezbollah's disarmament, with the United States expected to select the participants.
Lebanon and Israel have reached an agreement on a shortlist of countries that could provide troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah, a Lebanese official said on Friday. The list was compiled during talks at the U.S. embassy in Rome and will be reviewed by the United States, which may choose more than one nation.
The official declined to name the countries or disclose the size of the list. Earlier reports indicated that France had been vetoed by Israel and the United States. Hezbollah, which is not a party to the agreement, has refused to surrender its weapons.
"We have reached a short list of countries. We decided which parties were impossible for each and set the potential actors," the Lebanese official said. "The Americans will now decide, and could pick more than one country."
The United States described the technical discussions as productive, while Israel’s foreign ministry did not comment on the shortlist. Beirut previously rejected a proposal to use private security firms as third-party verifiers, insisting that only state actors should be considered.
The framework for foreign troops could involve placement under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) or another UN mechanism, which would require a new UN Security Council resolution. The parties also discussed the number of forces, their coordination with the Lebanese army, and the logistics of deployment.
Negotiations have not yet resolved the next area from which Israeli forces will withdraw, a point that Lebanon proposed for towns such as Bint Jbeil and Khiam. The next round of talks is scheduled for early September.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the sides are closer on steps needed to expand the pilot-zone process, while a Lebanese source indicated that Israel wants full Lebanese army control of the initial zones before further withdrawals. The Rome meetings reportedly covered legal, political and military tracks, including issues such as Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.