Lebanon has agreed to present a plan aimed at persuading Hezbollah to disarm, and Israel will submit a corresponding framework for its military withdrawal. United States envoy Tom Barrack said Beirut will set out the plan on August 31 and that efforts will focus on encouraging Hezbollah to surrender its weapons rather than military coercion. Hezbollah has repeatedly declared it will not disarm while Israel continues attacks and occupies parts of southern Lebanon. Lebanon's army and government say they are not seeking war but want to convince Hezbollah to relinquish arms. Lebanon's prime minister said the country is on an irreversible path to place all weapons under state control.
Lebanon has agreed to present a plan aimed at persuading Hezbollah to disarm, and Israel will submit a corresponding framework for its military withdrawal, United States envoy Tom Barrack has said, as the Lebanese armed group has repeatedly made clear it has no intention of doing so while Israel continues its attacks on the country and occupies parts of the south.
Speaking on Tuesday after talks with President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, Barrack said the plan would not involve military coercion but would focus on efforts to encourage Hezbollah to surrender its weapons. The Lebanese army and government are not talking about going to war. They are talking about how to convince Hezbollah to give up those arms, Barrack said. While no formal proposals have been exchanged, Barrack said verbal commitments from both sides suggested a narrowing path towards implementation.
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