Meeting in Paris to Discuss "Practical Means" to Monitor Hezbollah Disarmament
Meeting in Paris to discuss practical means to monitor Hezbollah disarmament amid tensions with Israel.
SUMMARY
A meeting was held in Paris with representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, and Israel to discuss practical means to monitor Hezbollah disarmament amid escalating Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Mechanism committee includes representatives from several countries to monitor the implementation of the Hezbollah disarmament agreement.
- The French spokesperson confirmed efforts to provide the committee with practical means to verify progress.
- Agreement reached to hold an international conference to support the Lebanese army in February.
- Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon during the meeting, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its capabilities.
CORE SUBJECT
Monitoring Hezbollah Disarmament
The "Mechanism" committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the agreement that ended a war between Hezbollah and Israel a year ago includes representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told reporters after the meeting, which was attended by envoys from France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia to Lebanon: "We are working to provide the committee with practical means on the ground to verify progress in the process of disarming Hezbollah."
He explained that the Lebanese army commander presented during the meeting the "progress made" by his forces in the south of the country, in addition to the "needs" of the army, noting there was "consensus on seriously documenting this progress and working within the framework of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism."
According to Confavreux, the attendees agreed in principle to hold an international conference to support the Lebanese army in February, without specifying the location.
During the meeting, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, claiming they targeted Hezbollah facilities.
The Lebanese authorities approved a plan to disarm Hezbollah in implementation of the agreement, with the army expected to complete the first phase in the border area south of the Litani River by the end of the year.
However, Israel has escalated its air raids in recent weeks, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its capabilities and expressing doubts about the effectiveness of the Lebanese army.
KEYWORDS
MENTIONED ENTITIES 7
Hezbollah
🏛️ OrganizationLebanese political and military movement
United States
📍 Location_CountryCountry participating in the Mechanism committee
France
📍 Location_CountryCountry participating in the Mechanism committee
Lebanon
📍 Location_CountryCountry participating in the Mechanism committee
Israel
📍 Location_CountryCountry participating in the Mechanism committee and conducting attacks on southern Lebanon
UNIFIL
🏛️ OrganizationUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Pascal Confavreux
👤 Person_MaleFrench Foreign Ministry spokesperson
NOTABLE QUOTES 2
"We are working to provide the committee with practical means on the ground to verify progress in the process of disarming Hezbollah."
Context: Statement to reporters after the Mechanism committee meeting in Paris
"The progress made by the Lebanese army forces in the south of the country, in addition to the army's needs, with consensus on seriously documenting this progress and working within the framework of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism."
Context: Explanation regarding the Lebanese army commander's presentation during the meeting