Political and diplomatic indicators related to the situation in southern Lebanon are accelerating, amid growing talk about security arrangements and anticipated negotiations that may shape the features of the next stage.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the next round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel will address what it called “experimental areas” that will be handed over to the Lebanese army, as part of research into mechanisms for implementing security understandings and possible withdrawals.
In parallel, NBC reported from the US Intelligence Agency that the ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon may jeopardize the peace agreement between Washington and Tehran, in reference to the growing interconnection between the Lebanese track and the US-Iranian negotiations.
In the same context, information obtained by RT revealed that preparations are being made out of the limelight for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel with American mediation, in parallel with the preparation of a draft security agreement that addresses a number of files related to the situation in southern Lebanon.
According to the information, the expected draft agreement includes specifying the areas from which the Israeli army is supposed to withdraw, and the mechanism for deploying the Lebanese army after the withdrawal, in addition to the role of the monitoring forces, whether through the “UNIFIL” forces or through the currently approved “mechanism.”
The data also indicated that the discussion includes a proposal previously presented by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stipulating that any Israeli withdrawal should include the entire Lebanese territory, and not be limited to specific and isolated points.
This comes at a time when President Joseph Aoun had confirmed that the Lebanese negotiating delegation in Washington had received instructions to work to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire during the next round of negotiations, in conjunction with his condemnation of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
These data coincide with the continuation of Israeli raids and targeting in several Lebanese regions, despite the announcement of a ceasefire agreement that was supposed to enter into force as of four o’clock yesterday afternoon.
