Lebanon Israel Hezbollah Disarmament Verification Talks

Lebanon and Israel, in talks at the U.S. embassy in Rome, agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah's disarmament under a U.S.-brokered agreement. The United States will select the countries from the list. Lebanon rejected a proposal for private security firms to serve as third-party verifiers. The talks are part of implementing a June 26 deal linking Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon to Hezbollah's disarmament. Hezbollah, not a party to the agreement, has refused to disarm. The sides have not agreed on the next area for Israeli troop withdrawal, with the next round set for early September. The U.S. and Israel are reportedly willing to consider a new UN Security Council resolution to house foreign troops under United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.