The latest round of US-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon began on Tuesday in Rome and will continue through Thursday.
The discussions concern which country – or countries – will be responsible for verifying that areas entered by the Lebanese Armed Forces under the pilot phase of Hezbollah’s disarmament are free of both Hezbollah operatives and the group’s weapons, three sources familiar with the talks have told The Jerusalem Post.
One of the countries that may take up the role is Italy.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that the talks were underway.
“The United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments as they carry this process forward in a manner that delivers lasting security for both countries, eliminates security threats to Israel, and restores Lebanese state authority throughout the south,” Pigott wrote in a post on X/Twitter.
On Tuesday, Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal met with the commander of Italy’s Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant-General Giovanni Maria Iannucci.
According to a statement released by the Lebanese Army, the two discussed “the overall situation, recent developments, ways to support the Lebanese Army in light of the challenges it faces, and the available options for the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mission.”
Who will verify Hezbollah disarmament without UNIFIL?
At the outset of the negotiations, insisted that it should be the party authorized to enter areas secured by the Lebanese Armed Forces in order to provide the final confirmation that they had been cleared of Hezbollah’s presence. However, following strong opposition from the Lebanese government, Israeli, Lebanese, and US officials began discussing which country – or countries – could verify that the areas are free of Hezbollah personnel and weapons.
Israel and the US are firmly opposed to extending the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which is set to expire at the end of the year; they do not want the multinational peacekeeping force to be responsible for conducting the final verification on the ground.
One source familiar with the discussions told the Post that no final decision has been made and that several alternatives remain under consideration.
