Lebanese Authorities Helping Hezbollah Recover - Assessment
Lebanese authorities denied reports that Beirut had coordinated with Israel on a list of countries to oversee Hezbollah's disarmament. Beirut is holding consultations only with Washington. Earlier, the State Department confirmed discussions on involving a third party. Israel insists on inspections in populated areas, while Lebanon is not ready.
Lebanese authorities have denied media reports that Beirut had coordinated with Israel on a list of countries whose militaries could oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah fighters. Reuters reports this. A Lebanese official stated that consultations are being held exclusively with Washington, and there have been no contacts with Jerusalem. Earlier, similar denials came from Israel. Information about a possible list of countries appeared last week after a meeting of Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Rome, mediated by the United States. Two days ago, the State Department confirmed that the possibility of involving a third party to oversee the Lebanese army's actions in searching for and confiscating illegal weapons in the south of the country was discussed, but the list was not disclosed. Agreeing on the verification mechanism remains problematic. Israel is pushing for inspections not only at military sites but also in populated areas of southern Lebanon, including private homes. The Lebanese military is not ready to accept such conditions: searching residential premises requires a court order, and large-scale inspections in Shiite-populated areas could provoke conflict with local residents and Hezbollah fighters.