Foreign Forces to Deploy in Southern Lebanon for Hezbollah Disarmament

Israel and Lebanon have reached a preliminary agreement on a list of four countries—the UK, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia—that may participate in a new international mechanism to station foreign forces in Lebanon. The goal of the move is to monitor closely and ensure the disarmament of the Hezbollah organization, according to a report published today (Wednesday) by the Reuters news agency, citing sources familiar with the details.

The candidate countries were identified during US-mediated talks held in Rome last week. This round of negotiations is a direct continuation of efforts to implement the agreement discussed last June, which links a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the organization's disarmament. The current fighting broke out in March after Hezbollah attacked Israel following the war that the United States and Israel waged against Iran.

According to Reuters, the selected countries are expected to help define the mechanism's powers, provide personnel to oversee its implementation, and send soldiers to take an active part in patrols and inspections on the ground. Currently, the IDF holds a security zone extending about 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory, and Israel has made it clear that it will not withdraw unilaterally before the organization is disarmed.

One of Israel's key demands is to conduct thorough searches inside private homes in Lebanese villages to ensure they are not used as disguised weapons caches. The Lebanese army has refused over the past year to carry out such searches for fear of internal escalation. Security sources in Lebanon noted that such an intrusive move would require individual search warrants for every residential home.

A foreign security source emphasized that the issue of search powers on private property must be resolved as soon as possible, including who will carry them out and under what conditions, along with a clear definition of the freedom of movement granted to the foreign forces. The most likely scenario currently being discussed is that the forces will be officially invited by the Lebanese government under a framework that receives Israel's approval.

Regarding the mandate and the identity of the inspectors, sources estimate that the United States and Israel are expected to oppose any UN involvement in the disarmament enforcement mechanism. Conversely, European countries may express opposition to oversight dictated by the "Peace Council" of US President Donald Trump. At this stage, the contacts are defined by a sense of "cautious optimism." The Prime Minister's Office, the Lebanese Presidency, and the relevant foreign ministries chose not to provide an official response to the report.