Lebanon, Israel agree shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah disarmament

What Happened

Lebanon and Israel have agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah, a Lebanese official said on Friday. The list was produced during meetings at the US embassy in Rome this week, as part of ongoing talks to implement the 26 June deal linking Israel's progressive troop withdrawal from Lebanon to Hezbollah disarmament, verified by a third party. The United States will now decide which country or countries from the list will be tasked with verification. Another Lebanese official and two foreign diplomats had previously told Reuters that Israel and the US vetoed France. Hezbollah is not a party to the agreement and has refused to give up its arsenal.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The verification force is central to the ceasefire and withdrawal framework. Progress on the shortlist despite Hezbollah's rejection highlights the challenges of implementation. The choice of countries will impact the credibility of the disarmament process and the stability of the border region.

Watch For

The US announcement of the chosen country or countries; any Hezbollah response or obstruction; potential deployment timeline; further talks on implementation steps; reactions from the Lebanese government and other factions.