Three Israeli officials reported that Israel and Lebanon are discussing a US-backed pilot project under which Israeli forces would hand over some territories in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese Armed Forces, Reuters reported.
اضافة اعلان
According to the officials, the Lebanese forces participating in the project will undergo training and security vetting programs supervised by the United States.
The officials added that the participating Lebanese forces would be vetted by the US side to ensure they have no links to Hezbollah, while Israel would maintain a military presence in the buffer zone.
The proposed "pilot" project is being discussed during the latest round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials, which kicked off in Washington yesterday, Tuesday.
This diplomatic track has faced rejection from Hezbollah, and its significance diminished after Tehran made Lebanon a focal point of its negotiations with the United States.
Responding to a question regarding the Israeli officials' comments, a senior Lebanese security official said that discussions are ongoing in Washington, and today will witness talks between the two militaries, covering the pilot areas among other matters.
The Lebanese official added that the discussions will focus on a withdrawal timetable, and that no plan will emerge until after the final day of talks tomorrow, Thursday. The official did not respond to a request for comment on what Israeli officials stated regarding the US vetting of Lebanese forces.
The latest confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel broke out when the Lebanese group fired rockets at Israel in support of Tehran during the early days of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
A ceasefire between the two sides has largely held since Sunday, even as Israeli forces remain deployed deep inside southern Lebanon, where they have seized control of parts they unilaterally declared a "security zone," stating it is needed to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
The interim agreement signed by Iran and the United States last week stipulates that both countries and their allies declare an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, while ensuring its "territorial integrity and sovereignty."
Reuters
