Report: Issa asks Berri who in Lebanon has capacity to fulfill commitments
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, who visited Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, carried a fundamental question: who in Lebanon actually has the capacity to implement and fulfill commitments as to any possible agreement with Israel to stop the current war, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.
"This question reflects a deep crisis of confidence in Washington and the international community regarding the Lebanese authorities' ability to provide genuine guarantees for disarming Hezbollah or preventing it from undermining any future agreement," the daily said.
While U.S. sources rule out the possibility of the Israeli side being ready for negotiations at the current moment, they confirm that Washington will assume mediation as soon as the opportune moment arrives, with President Donald Trump's advisor, Massad Boulos, leading these talks.
Furthermore, the source explained that "the political climate leans towards a pragmatic approach based on giving negotiations a chance, given the clarity of Lebanese demands and the possibility of involving various forces in the process, while simultaneously striving to minimize human and economic losses and contain waves of displacement and migration."
The source noted that the success of this approach remains contingent on regional and international developments and the ability to combine consolidating stability on the ground with expanding diplomatic efforts.
In the context of the negotiations, a diplomatic source told the newspaper that the atmosphere emanating from Tel Aviv reflects "a negative Israeli response to the proposal for direct negotiations, with a clear inclination towards a military solution."
While official Lebanese contacts are focused on exploring the boundaries of the anticipated Israeli invasion and the depth of the "buffer zone," diplomatic sources agree on a military scenario involving the imposition of a buffer zone extending to the Litani River, in conjunction with "a large-scale aerial campaign to destroy Hezbollah's missile and drone factories and capabilities, and to dismantle its military infrastructure."
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