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3. Diplomatic Uncertainties and Reconstruction: Lebanon’s Challenges Amid International Expectations

A recent interview with Morgan Ortagus, deputy to the U.S. president’s special envoy for the Middle East, highlighted significant discrepancies between official announcements and the on-the-ground reality in Lebanon. While the U.S. administration claims to have initiated diplomatic working groups to address the Lebanese-Israeli border issue, the Lebanese government asserts that it has not been officially informed.

A Diplomatic Dialogue Out of Sync

On Tuesday, Morgan Ortagus stated that an agreement had been reached to establish diplomatic 3 working groups tasked with resolving border disputes between Lebanon and Israel, particularly the delineation of the Blue Line. However, a source close to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told This is Beirut that they learned of this news through the media, highlighting a significant disconnect between international communications and the perception of local authorities.

Rebuilding the South: A Major Challenge

Regarding the reconstruction of South Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus emphasized the need for exclusive involvement of the Lebanese state, explicitly ruling out Hezbollah’s participation. While the Lebanese government expresses its willingness to take on this responsibility, it acknowledges that this requirement complicates project implementation due to a lack of resources.

"We are awaiting financial assistance from the international community, particularly from the Gulf, as well as the completion of damage assessments caused by the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel before formulating a reconstruction plan. It will take weeks, if not months, to establish a full report, especially as hostilities continue in the South," an expert explained anonymously. "No foreign state has yet had the time to provide us with financial aid at this stage," they added. Asked about Hezbollah’s exclusion from the process, they responded with irony: "In any case, Hezbollah has no money."

The Disarmament of Hezbollah: Still a Theoretical Debate

Another key point in Morgan Ortagus' statements was the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River. While Nawaf Salam’s government appears theoretically supportive of this principle, no concrete measures have been taken so far. "The Lebanese army is fulfilling its mission and deploying along the Lebanese-Israeli border, but some international observers remain skeptical. They believe that many Hezbollah weapons depots still exist in the area," a government source noted. "We explain to them that army operations take time due to insufficient resources," they added.

Given the U.S. policy of maximum pressure on Iran and Hezbollah, the same source believes that Lebanon could face increased international sanctions if it fails to meet American demands.

Caught between international pressures, economic hardships, and security imperatives, Lebanon finds itself at a critical juncture. The gap between official statements and local realities underscores an urgent need for coordination among the various stakeholders. The country must quickly clarify its positions and structure its actions to avoid increasing isolation on the international stage.