Lebanon is intensifying military and political preparations ahead of a US-sponsored security track with Israel set to begin at the Pentagon on 29 May, as concerns mount in Beirut over proposals tied to Hezbollah’s disarmament and possible direct military coordination with Israel.
The talks come after Washington announced last week a 45-day extension to the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel following negotiations held at the US State Department on 14 and 15 May. A second round of political talks is scheduled for 2 and 3 June in Washington.
Lebanese officials are currently pursuing two parallel tracks, sources told The New Arab: efforts to secure a full ceasefire and preparations for upcoming Pentagon meetings, coordinated through President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese army command.
The focus is currently on “continuing contacts with Washington to secure a complete ceasefire during the truce period, with an end to destruction, demolitions and explosions”, the sources said, adding there were “great hopes” of reaching such an outcome.
The same sources described the Pentagon meetings as “very important” and “different from the meetings held at the US State Department”, stressing that they require extensive preparation from the Lebanese army leadership.
A US State Department official told The New Arab that “US efforts are ongoing, and the diplomatic track continues with strong momentum for the talks to contribute to achieving lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel.”
The current US push to advance the Lebanon ceasefire track separately from wider regional tensions has also raised hopes in Beirut that any renewed confrontation involving Iran would not automatically collapse negotiations related to the Lebanon front
The upcoming talks are expected to cover a broad range of issues, including a comprehensive ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, the return of bodies, reconstruction, the return of displaced civilians and border demarcation.
The discussions will also focus on Lebanon’s plan to place all weapons under state authority and strengthen the Lebanese army through logistical, financial and technical support.
The Lebanese army is preparing a “detailed report” for the talks outlining Lebanon’s demands, steps already taken to implement the ceasefire and security arrangements, and future plans for placing weapons under state control, Lebanese sources said.
Lebanese officials are also considering requesting the reactivation of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, known as the “mechanism”, with expanded field coordination.
Fears over military coordination and Hezbollah disarmament
The negotiations have triggered growing political tensions in Lebanon amid reports that Washington and Tel Aviv are pushing for expanded military and security coordination focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
US proposals discussed during the talks included the creation of a new Lebanese army brigade trained and funded by Washington to carry out disarmament operations targeting Hezbollah.
The proposed unit would receive US military and security training and would be authorised to raid homes, facilities and sites suspected of containing weapons, according to Al Akhbar newspaper.
Washington would also reportedly participate in selecting the brigade’s officers and personnel while excluding anyone suspected of links to Hezbollah.
The proposals also included direct military coordination between the Lebanese and Israeli armies through US mediation, alongside pressure on Lebanon to repeal its boycott law against Israel and formally outlaw Hezbollah’s military and security wings.
The United States is seeking to establish new rules of engagement that would effectively return to the situation before 2 March, under which Hezbollah would halt military operations while Israel would stop expanding its ground operations but retain “the right to strike perceived threats”.
Washington and Tel Aviv are seeking to create a joint military operations room involving the Lebanese and Israeli armies under US supervision to coordinate the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials also want a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament and are pushing for Lebanese army raids in residential neighbourhoods and homes suspected of storing weapons.
Popular news site Al-Modon warned that such proposals risk dragging Lebanon towards internal confrontation, with Lebanese officials fearing that elite military units focused on Hezbollah could threaten both national stability and army cohesion.
Lebanese army sources told The New Arab that “nothing official related to any special unit has reached us”, adding that discussions surrounding such proposals remain confined to media reports.
The sources added that the army would only comment once any proposal was “seriously placed on the table”.
Hezbollah warns against Pentagon track
Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan warned on Monday against “a security track being prepared at the Pentagon between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy under American sponsorship”.
Speaking during a memorial event in the Baalbek-Hermel region, Hajj Hassan said the track served “clear American objectives and its clear hostility towards the resistance”, warning that its dangers extended “to all of Lebanon”.
He criticised Lebanese authorities for entering negotiations despite previously insisting talks would not begin before a ceasefire was secured.
“Whoever believes they can give the Americans what they want, and behind them the Israelis, is delusional and has not read history or understood the present,” he said.
Hajj Hassan also rejected claims that most Lebanese support normalisation with Israel, saying there were major political forces in Lebanon that remained opposed to peace and normalisation.
He also invoked the failed 17 May 1983 withdrawal and peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, warning that “whoever believes they can pass a new 17 May agreement is very delusional”.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah-linked parliamentary sources told The New Arab that the group would continue responding to Israeli attacks and violations, insisting it “will not return to before 2 March”.
The sources said Hezbollah would respect the ceasefire if Israel did the same, warning that “every violation will be responded to”.
They also accused the United States and Israel of trying to push the Lebanese army into confrontation with Hezbollah and trigger internal conflict in Lebanon.
