Lebanon17 October, 20262 min read
Netanyahu Says He Doesn’t Trust Lebanon To Disarm Hezbollah Ahead Of Talks In Tampa
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Netanyahu says he doesn't trust Lebanon's government to disarm Hezbollah. Tampa talks will include Hezbollah disarmament verification and withdrawal from the security zone.
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Tampa talks, disarmament deadlock
Military talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to take place tomorrow at the United States Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, with pilot zones, Lebanese army deployment, and Israeli troop withdrawal on the agenda. The meeting’s critical question centers on which party will verify that Hezbollah weapons have been removed from southern Lebanon, because disarming Hezbollah is described as a key sticking point for Israel in withdrawal negotiations with Lebanon. Lebanese authorities argue that constitutional protections stop them from searching private dwellings where Hezbollah has stashed its goods, and analysts say Lebanon’s legal system hinders progress.
Nuna of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon said, "In that meeting, they’re going to discuss having joint teams to keep the peace in Lebanon." Nuna added, "We’re anticipating that God is up to something."
Netanyahu rejects Lebanese trust
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel’s Radio North, "No, I don't trust them to disarm Hezbollah," and he said Israel would keep its forces in the so-called security zone in south Lebanon. Netanyahu added, "That's why we said that as long as it is not disarmed, we will remain in this zone that changed the situation in the north," linking the continued presence of Israeli troops to the disarmament dispute. Netanyahu also vowed, "We will eliminate Hezbollah, although it is weakened and a shadow of itself," framing the objective as elimination rather than only withdrawal.
UA.NEWS reported that Asharq Al-Awsat said Netanyahu made the statement in an interview with Radio North, and it described Israeli forces remaining in the security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed. UA.NEWS further said Maariv reported that the Israel Defense Forces had placed the 36th and 91st divisions on an extremely high state of operational readiness on October 18.
Beirut presses for attack halt
Lebanon’s presidency said a Lebanese military delegation will present Beirut’s demands for an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon at a trilateral meeting in Tampa, Florida, on October 20. The Times of Israel liveblog entry said Lebanon and Israel had held direct talks in recent months aimed at ending hostilities since a new war erupted on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of its patron. The entry said that under a deal reached through US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks, Beirut vowed to disarm Hezbollah, which would in turn lead to Israeli troops gradually withdrawing from Lebanon.
Hezbollah refused to disarm as long as Israeli forces remain on Lebanese land, and Israel continued striking terror targets in southern Lebanon, which it says are violating the agreement. UA.NEWS said Israeli forces continued attacks on populated areas in southern Lebanon, and it cited artillery fire in the outskirts of Zibqin in the Tyre Governorate and a powerful explosion heard in Qantara in the Marjayoun district.