The seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, scheduled to take place in Rome next week, faces two main obstacles: the absence of an agreed verification mechanism and Israeli violations that are hampering the Lebanese Army’s efforts to complete its deployment and fully secure the area. Amid political support for the army’s mission, the military has not concealed those difficulties. Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal said the army remained committed to carrying out all its duties despite severe challenges, including limited resources, the scale of its responsibilities and the sensitivity of the circumstances. He added that the army was continuing its deployment in South Lebanon under existing understandings, in line with national requirements and principles, while pursuing efforts to ensure a safe return. In a message of support marking the army’s 81st anniversary, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the Lebanese Army remained “the model that tests others rather than being tested,” embodying unity, identity, belonging, sacrifice and loyalty in defense of a united Lebanon—not “model areas whose borders are drawn by the Israeli occupier through fire, killing and destruction.” Verification Mechanism The obstacles facing next week’s seventh session, which is expected to designate a second pilot area, remain unresolved. Chief among them is the lack of agreement on a mechanism to verify the Lebanese Army’s achievements following its deployment in the first pilot area. Lebanese sources following the preparatory talks told Asharq Al-Awsat that proposals had included verification by the US military or a third party. Israel, however, has rejected assigning the task to a European force and insists that its own military conduct the verification. Lebanon rejects that demand because its army does not coordinate directly with the Israeli military. Army Says It Fulfilled Its Obligations A military source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese Army had fully carried out its duties during the first phase and completed its mission. The source said Israeli attacks and violations were obstructing the army’s efforts to complete its deployment and secure towns so residents could return and live there. “The Lebanese side has done what was required in coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, MCG4L, and is waiting for the other, Israeli, side to do the same,” the source underlined. Continued occupation, repeated attacks and violations, and Israeli political statements rejecting withdrawal posed another challenge to the coming session. Israel’s “Freedom of Movement” Another obstacle is Israel’s assertion of “freedom of movement” outside the framework of existing agreements. Lebanese sources said Israel considered itself entitled to act, kill and carry out strikes, describing this as one of the main impediments to the success of the pilot-area model. The Lebanese Army deployed in the first pilot area and cleared war remnants, allowing residents to enter Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh. It also imposed strict security measures in Srifa and Froun, which are part of the same area. Lebanese sources said the army encountered no problems with residents or Hezbollah during the deployment. Second Pilot Area Those challenges could hinder agreement on a second pilot area. Reports in Beirut suggest Israel is pressing for it to be established in an unoccupied part of the Nabatieh region that is subjected to daily Israeli strikes, rather than in occupied territory. The aim, according to the reports, is to widen the Israeli Army’s security zone around occupied positions east of Nabatieh, including Beaufort Castle, Yohmor and Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh. Israeli forces have also carried out incursions toward Kfar Tebnit and near the Ali al-Taher hills, which they seek to control.
