Israel and Lebanon Agree on Four Countries for Hezbollah Disarmament Oversight

Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement on the participation of four countries in a monitoring mechanism to oversee Hezbollah's disarmament, according to sources involved in recent talks held in Rome under U.S. mediation. The agreed countries are the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia, which will provide personnel and assist in defining the mechanism's authority. The United States will ultimately decide which countries will actively participate in the oversight mission.

A key point of contention remains Israel's demand to conduct searches inside private homes in southern Lebanon to ensure villages are free of weapons. The Lebanese army opposes such searches, fearing they could provoke unrest among the local population and direct confrontations with Hezbollah. Security officials note that Lebanese forces would require judicial warrants for any home searches, and foreign forces' freedom of movement and search authority must be clearly defined.

The monitoring mechanism will not operate under United Nations auspices but rather at the invitation of the Lebanese government. Israel and the U.S. are expected to reject any UN involvement. There is also concern that some European countries might oppose oversight under the "Peace Council" proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The agreement follows a June deal linking the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces to Hezbollah's disarmament.