Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia Considered to Monitor Hezbollah Disarmament in Lebanon

Reuters reported that Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a list of potential countries to oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah. The countries under consideration are Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia. Sources told Reuters that armed forces from these nations might be deployed in Lebanon to verify the process. This agreement emerged from the latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon held in Rome last week.

The discussions about the shortlist of countries are still in early stages, but there is cautious optimism about the success of the effort. According to two sources, the proposed mechanism involves inspecting villages in southern Lebanon to ensure they are free of weapons, with Israel demanding inspections inside private homes as well. Other sources indicated that the Lebanese army would require search warrants to enter homes in the south.

Additionally, there is a need to authorize the presence of foreign troops in Lebanon. Lebanese authorities would have to officially invite these forces. Israel and the United States are reportedly unlikely to accept United Nations forces in this role, while some European countries might oppose oversight by the U.S. President Donald Trump's peace council. Meanwhile, the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks has been delayed due to Hezbollah's opposition, with a Lebanese minister excluded from negotiations with Israel amid rising tensions.