International Forces to Join Lebanon's South to Search Hezbollah Homes for Weapons

Israel and Lebanon have reached a preliminary agreement to involve four countries, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia, in an international mechanism aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure. A key Israeli demand is to conduct thorough searches inside private homes in Lebanese villages to ensure they are not used as concealed weapons caches. However, the Lebanese army has refused to carry out such searches over the past year, fearing they could trigger internal escalation. Lebanese security officials also noted that invasive searches would require individual search warrants for each residence.

A foreign security source emphasized the urgent need to resolve the issue of search authority in private properties, including clarifying who will conduct the searches, under what conditions, and defining the freedom of movement granted to the foreign forces. The most likely scenario under discussion is that these forces will be officially invited by the Lebanese government, operating under a framework approved by Israel.

This development marks a significant step in the international effort to disarm Hezbollah and stabilize southern Lebanon, with coordination between Israel, Lebanon, and the participating countries expected to continue in the coming weeks.