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Talks delayed, firepower continues
Israel is trying to delay negotiations with Lebanon until after its October legislative election, with a Lebanese source telling Al Jazeera that Israel is also trying to "buy time" by stalling the implementation of the so-called pilot zones in southern Lebanon.
“Israel is also trying to "buy time" by stalling the implementation of the so-called pilot zones in southern Lebanon”
The same source said Israeli claims that the pilot zones for military units in southern Lebanon had failed were a “delaying tactic,” adding, “We tried to spare the Ali al-Taher heights from the battle, but our efforts were unsuccessful.”
On Friday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Israeli forces targeted several areas of southern Lebanon with artillery and machine-gun fire, striking Houla and Wadi al-Salouqi, with no casualties or damage reported immediately.
The attacks came a day after Israeli forces intensified their offensive across southern Lebanon, carrying out air strikes, artillery shelling and ground incursions in areas including Mansouri and Mays al-Jabal.
Israel has continued its attacks on Lebanon since launching a new offensive on March 2, with its forces advancing into additional areas of the south.
US ties talks to Hezbollah
US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa linked the stalled southern Lebanon negotiations to Washington-Tehran tensions, saying negotiations cannot be separated from regional developments, particularly talks between Washington and Tehran.
Issa told Al Jadeed after meeting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian at Dar al-Fatwa that “There is no agreement to end the Israeli aggression because Hezbollah has not handed over its weapons,” and he argued that Washington was willing to negotiate if Hezbollah had something to offer.
The Arab Weekly reported Issa’s remarks that “We have never said we would not negotiate with the party,” while also saying Israeli attacks would continue while Hezbollah refused to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese army.
A Lebanese official speaking to Al Jazeera said Tel Aviv is deliberately wasting time and attempting to delay the negotiation process in the wake of the Israeli elections, adding that Lebanon awaits the U.S. administration to set a date for the next round of negotiations in Rome.
The same Al Jazeera source said Lebanon sent messages to Hezbollah to consult but “has not received any response,” while insisting that the international community is convinced that Hezbollah cannot be disarmed by force.
UNIFIL deadline and next steps
Lebanon is preparing for a Friday UN Security Council session on the future of international forces in southern Lebanon as the mandate of UNIFIL approaches its final phase, with a Lebanese official saying there is currently “no plan B” for maintaining an international presence under a framework different from UNIFIL.
“there was currently “no plan B” for maintaining an international presence”
The Arab Weekly said UNIFIL is expected to stop its monitoring and oversight functions by the end of the year and then begin withdrawing from its area of operations south of the Litani River, with the process expected to continue until the end of 2027.
In parallel, US-backed talks have continued over implementation of a US-mediated framework agreement reached on June 26, providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal in exchange for deployment of the Lebanese army and disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.
TRT World reported that US-sponsored talks have continued over arrangements for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment while Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have persisted.
A Lebanese source told Al Jazeera that Lebanon has no options to reel in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu other than continuing along the negotiation path, while the source said the possibility of Lebanon initiating a halt to negotiations remains distant.