Hezbollah is reportedly “unable to sustain” its fight against Israel on the southern front, as per information obtained by This is Beirut, leaked by Hezbollah officials.
According to these sources, the pro-Iranian party is also leaning towards the American diplomatic initiative for a settlement on the Lebanese-Israeli border, “in exchange for Israel’s commitment not to violate UN Resolution 1701.”
The American proposal, akin to the one presented by France, is said to entail the withdrawal of Hezbollah beyond the Litani River, along with other planned measures, including a significant deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon. US special envoy Amos Hochstein conveyed these proposals to Lebanese officials during his recent visits to Beirut.
Several related sources suggest that the concern about Hezbollah’s weapons stands apart from the implementation of Resolution 1701, “contrary to the belief that it is part of the overall settlement” on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Indeed, “foreign and local parties oppose the withdrawal of Hezbollah weapons beyond the Litani River, insisting on the implementation of UN Resolution 1559.” The latter calls for the limitation of weapons to “legitimate” (state) hands.
These remarks come amidst ongoing military operations in Gaza and clashes on Lebanese territory, despite the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on March 25, which called for an immediate ceasefire. Against this backdrop, negotiations between mediators are underway in Doha and Cairo to implement a cessation of hostilities and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
