Lead:
Lebanon is navigating one of its most consequential diplomatic weeks in years, as a U.S. military delegation arrived in Beirut following three days of consultations in Tel Aviv, carrying concrete proposals related to the implementation of the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement. With Rome talks scheduled for next week and a first pilot withdrawal zone expected to begin within days, the Lebanese state faces mounting internal disagreement over the terms of the deal and its broader sovereignty implications.
Details:
According to Al-Markazia, the American military team — affiliated with CENTCOM — arrived in Beirut from Israel bearing the conclusions of intensive meetings with Israeli military officials. The Lebanese Army responded with documented positions of its own, underlining its legal and territorial objections. A Lebanese military source cited by Tayyar.org was unambiguous: "The army does not serve the enemy." The exchange underscores the delicate line the Lebanese Armed Forces are attempting to walk between cooperation with U.S.-led mechanisms and preservation of institutional credibility.
President Joseph Aoun addressed journalists directly, affirming he would not reverse course on the negotiation track. Al-Akhbar reported him stating that the decision to negotiate reflects Lebanese sovereign authority and that he remains committed to explaining the importance of this path to the Lebanese public at every step. However, Al-Markazia noted that at least nine cabinet ministers are reportedly objecting to aspects of the deal, and that sensitive military operations in the south have been frozen — a development attributed by Al-Diyar to U.S. pressure on Israel ahead of the Rome talks.
On the opposition side, Hezbollah-aligned voices were emphatic. Member of Parliament Hassan Fadlallah, of the Wafa lil-Muqawama bloc, declared the framework agreement "was written in Israel" and called on the Lebanese government to withdraw from it, adding that Iran had signaled it would not endorse any final arrangement before Israeli forces fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. MP Ibrahim al-Mussawi went further, accusing the authorities of entrapping Lebanon through direct negotiations with what he termed the enemy, and urging officials to draw lessons from the Islamabad talks. Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, delivering Friday prayers remarks cited by multiple outlets, stated that Lebanese sovereignty stands above any side deal.
On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made a surprise visit to Istanbul, meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. An official statement confirmed both sides agreed to expand bilateral cooperation and Turkish support for Lebanese sovereignty. Meanwhile, Army Commander General Rudolf Heikel received newly appointed Saudi Ambassador Fahd bin Abdel-Rahman al-Dawsari in Yarze, a meeting Al-Markazia described as covering the latest security and political developments.
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