The Mechanism for Monitoring the Cessation of Hostilities convened on Wednesday in Ras Naqoura, with participation limited to the committee’s core military members.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Lebanese Army (LAF) and the Israeli Army, alongside American and French officers and the commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The meeting was only military and was not attended by civilian representatives. Last month, Lebanon and Israel appointed the first civilians to lead their delegations to the ceasefire monitoring committee, after a request from the United States.
Notably, a source familiar with the discussions told MTV that U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus had previously expressed reluctance to attend the mechanism’s meeting scheduled for December 7, citing concerns that the sessions have become repetitive and have failed to produce meaningful breakthroughs.
Upcoming Cabinet Session
The meeting took place a day ahead of a cabinet session that will discuss the Lebanese army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, a plan launched under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes.
In the cabinet meeting Thursday, army commander Rodolphe Haykal will brief the government on its mission of disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani river along the border with Israel.
The Lebanese army last year began the disarmament process of Palestinian groups while the government has said that by the end of 2025 all the areas south of the Litani River will be clear of Hezbollah’s armed presence.
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