Israel and Lebanon have agreed on Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Indonesia as potential contributors to an international mechanism that could see foreign troops deployed to Lebanon to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament, Reuters reported Wednesday.
The shortlist emerged from U.S.-mediated talks held in Rome last week as Israel and Lebanon continue negotiations over implementing a June agreement linking Israel’s phased withdrawal from Lebanon to the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Under the proposal, the four countries could help determine the scope of the verification mechanism, provide personnel to oversee its implementation, or contribute troops to observe or directly participate in inspections aimed at confirming that Hezbollah has been disarmed.
Discussions remain at an early stage, although one source with direct knowledge of the talks said those involved were “cautiously optimistic” that the effort would move forward.
A key unresolved issue is how extensive the inspections would be. Two sources said villages in southern Lebanon could be inspected and certified as free of weapons, while Israel is pushing for the inspections to extend into private homes.
The Lebanese army has resisted pressure over the past year to search private properties, fearing such operations could trigger tensions in southern Lebanon and with Hezbollah more broadly. Lebanese security officials have said warrants would be required for each home.
A foreign security official said the question of private properties still needs to be resolved, including who would conduct the searches and how they would be carried out. The freedom of movement granted to any foreign troops deployed under the mechanism would also have to be clearly defined.
Israel currently maintains what it describes as a security zone extending 10 kilometers into southern Lebanon and has said it will not withdraw unilaterally before Hezbollah is disarmed.
Any deployment of foreign forces would require an agreed mandate. The most likely arrangement under discussion would involve the Lebanese government formally inviting the troops under a framework endorsed by Israel.
The United States and Israel are considered unlikely to accept United Nations involvement in the mechanism, while European countries could resist having the mission overseen by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Switzerland’s foreign ministry said it was exploring ways to support “various stabilization processes,” while a British foreign ministry spokesperson said Britain was prepared to support efforts aimed at de-escalation and long-term security, particularly in southern Lebanon.
The proposal is still far from finalized, but if implemented, it would place foreign personnel on the ground with a direct role in determining whether Hezbollah’s disarmament obligations are actually being carried out as Israel gradually withdraws from Lebanon.
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