U.S. sources have confirmed that discussions currently taking place in Washington go beyond political rhetoric and extend into the development of concrete scenarios for dealing with Hezbollah. What is being publicly outlined is based on a clear equation: a time frame over the coming year for Hezbollah to disarm, in response to a request by the Lebanese government. Otherwise, military options would come into play.
The sources stress that this approach falls within U.S. national security considerations. Washington no longer views Hezbollah as a purely internal Lebanese issue, but rather as a direct threat linked to Israel and to American interests in the region. Accordingly, discussions are underway about a trilateral coordination plan involving the United States, Israel, and the Lebanese Army. The aim is to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure and disarm it, without deploying U.S. ground forces, and instead relying on military pressure tools, including air support.
U.S. sources told MTV that the diplomatic track has not been closed. On the contrary, available information indicates that Israel is expected to raise its level of participation in direct talks with Lebanon during the second meeting scheduled to be held in Naqoura.
According to a source familiar with the details, the meeting is officially focused on economic cooperation along the border, but its underlying objective is to prevent a renewed outbreak of war. A former U.S. official told MTV that increasing the level of Israeli representation could be seen as a positive and forward looking step, combining political and security pressure on one hand while keeping negotiation channels open on the other.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said that if Hezbollah does not hand over its weapons, as requested by the Lebanese government, within a defined time frame sometime next year, the United States has a military plan, in cooperation with Israel and in coordination with the Lebanese Army, to intervene and disarm the group.
He added that he believes it is in the U.S. national security interest to help Israel and the Lebanese Army dismantle Hezbollah. He stressed that this would not involve sending ground troops, but rather engagement through the use of U.S. air power, similar to previous operations against Iran.
Watch the attached video for more.
The sources stress that this approach falls within U.S. national security considerations. Washington no longer views Hezbollah as a purely internal Lebanese issue, but rather as a direct threat linked to Israel and to American interests in the region. Accordingly, discussions are underway about a trilateral coordination plan involving the United States, Israel, and the Lebanese Army. The aim is to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure and disarm it, without deploying U.S. ground forces, and instead relying on military pressure tools, including air support.
U.S. sources told MTV that the diplomatic track has not been closed. On the contrary, available information indicates that Israel is expected to raise its level of participation in direct talks with Lebanon during the second meeting scheduled to be held in Naqoura.
According to a source familiar with the details, the meeting is officially focused on economic cooperation along the border, but its underlying objective is to prevent a renewed outbreak of war. A former U.S. official told MTV that increasing the level of Israeli representation could be seen as a positive and forward looking step, combining political and security pressure on one hand while keeping negotiation channels open on the other.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said that if Hezbollah does not hand over its weapons, as requested by the Lebanese government, within a defined time frame sometime next year, the United States has a military plan, in cooperation with Israel and in coordination with the Lebanese Army, to intervene and disarm the group.
He added that he believes it is in the U.S. national security interest to help Israel and the Lebanese Army dismantle Hezbollah. He stressed that this would not involve sending ground troops, but rather engagement through the use of U.S. air power, similar to previous operations against Iran.
Watch the attached video for more.
