Italy Considers Joining New International Force in Southern Lebanon to Monitor Hezbollah Disarmament

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are ongoing in Rome, involving teams from Jerusalem, Beirut, and Washington, focusing on disarming Hezbollah and establishing a security arrangement to enable Israeli troop withdrawal while neutralizing threats to Israel. Recently, Italy has been asked to join a new international force in southern Lebanon alongside other "serious countries," according to a source familiar with the details who spoke to N12. Italy is reportedly positively considering the proposal, with expectations that it will accept the invitation.

The new force aims to oversee a pilot program where the Lebanese army takes control of areas vacated by the Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon, ensuring these zones remain free of Hezbollah presence. This force is expected to resemble the International Stabilization Force in Gaza but will consist of countries with greater political influence. It could be established soon, potentially replacing the current UNIFIL mission, which includes many Italian troops and is set to end by the end of the year.

Discussions suggest the new force might adopt a more assertive stance than UNIFIL, which has faced criticism for its inability to effectively counter Hezbollah. The force is anticipated to number in the thousands, including Italian soldiers. The diplomatic hope is that successful negotiations will lead to Hezbollah's voluntary disarmament, making the international force unnecessary.

Italy has a long history of involvement in Lebanon and is one of Israel's closest European allies, positioning it as an influential player in the conflict. Despite recent cooling relations between Jerusalem and Rome due to public opinion and dissatisfaction with government policies, Italy remains a stable ally and has blocked EU sanctions against Israel. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently suspended a security agreement with Israel but continues to maintain strategic ties.