Foreign Troops to Verify Hezbollah Disarmament

Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a shortlist of potential contributors—Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia—to a proposed mechanism that could deploy foreign troops to Lebanon to verify Hezbollah's disarmament. The shortlist emerged from U.S.-mediated talks in Rome last week, part of ongoing negotiations to implement a June agreement linking Israel's phased withdrawal from Lebanon to Hezbollah's disarmament. The countries could help define the mechanism's scope, provide personnel, or contribute troops for inspections. Israel seeks inspections of private homes in southern Lebanon, a point of contention with Lebanon's army, which has resisted such searches. A mandate for foreign troops would need to be agreed, likely with the Lebanese government formally inviting them under a framework endorsed by Israel. The U.S. and Israel are unlikely to accept U.N. involvement, while European nations may oppose oversight by President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. Discussions are in early stages, with sources cautiously optimistic.