Report: Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Indonesia May Oversee Hezbollah Disarmament

Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a short list of countries that could take part in a mechanism to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament, Reuters reported Wednesday evening. According to the report, the four countries currently on the list are Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Indonesia.

The understandings were reached following the latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon, held last week in Rome. Sources who spoke with Reuters said the discussions are still at an early stage, but one said there is "cautious optimism" that the initiative could move forward and succeed.

Under the emerging mechanism, the selected countries could play a direct role in on-the-ground oversight. According to the sources, one option being considered is deploying armed forces on their behalf in Lebanon as part of the effort to ensure Hezbollah’s disarmament is carried out.

Two sources told Reuters that the proposed plan includes inspections in villages in southern Lebanon to make sure they are free of weapons. One issue still under discussion involves the scope of the inspections: Israel is demanding that oversight not be limited to public spaces, but also include searches inside private homes.

That requirement could necessitate a legal process by Lebanese authorities. Other sources who spoke with the news agency explained that, in order to search homes in the country’s south, the Lebanese army would need to obtain search warrants.

Another unresolved issue concerns the presence of foreign soldiers on Lebanese soil and the authority that would permit their deployment. According to the officials, the Lebanese government would need to formally invite the foreign forces into the country in order to allow them to operate under the mechanism.

At the same time, the sides will also need to reach agreements on the framework under which the oversight mechanism will operate. According to the report, Israel and the United States are unlikely to agree to the United Nations serving as the body overseeing the process. European countries, meanwhile, may object to oversight being carried out under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Peace Council.