US tells Lebanon Hezbollah disarmament efforts 'not enough'

Lebanon has received negative signals from the United States over its efforts to bring Hezbollah's weapons under state control, with Washington warning that Israel intends to continue its military operations in the south, The New Arab has learned.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received several messages while in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, including warnings from US officials that Israel intends to maintain the security zone it has established in southern Lebanon.

Washington conveyed that Israel would continue its operations "as long as the Lebanese state does not take serious action to disarm Hezbollah", according to information obtained by TNA, and that it remains determined to destroy the group's military infrastructure.

US officials also told Salam that the steps taken by the Lebanese government so far were insufficient and that efforts to bring all weapons under state control must be accelerated.

According to the information obtained by TNA, Washington called for a firmer approach to the issue, warning that the situation could deteriorate further otherwise.

The warnings come as southern Lebanon faces near-daily Israeli escalation, with Israel stepping up its operations and insisting on maintaining the security zone it has established in the south.

Prospects for a solution are meanwhile receding, at least until Israel's parliamentary elections on 27 October.

Salam also received several messages of support, particularly from Arab and European countries, backing the government's decisions and Lebanon's demands for Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.

There was also support for the need to fill any security vacuum in southern Lebanon if the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires without renewal, with efforts expected to intensify in the coming period to find a solution to the crisis.

Hezbollah sets conditions for weapons talks

Attention is meanwhile turning to Hezbollah and whether the group could enter into a confrontation with Israel, particularly if Israeli military operations intensify.

Such a scenario remains unlikely in the near term, however, as Hezbollah is currently looking to developments between the US and Iran, with Tehran making Lebanon a key issue in its negotiations.

Hezbollah parliamentary sources told The New Arab that the group was "monitoring all developments, and its eyes will remain on the field. Iran remains committed to the Lebanon issue and will not abandon it, which is what should be relied upon rather than direct negotiations with the enemy".

They added that the Lebanese state should return to indirect negotiations with Israel and correct the course of the talks.

The sources said Hezbollah was open to discussing the issue of its weapons domestically and as part of a national defence strategy.

However, they said a complete halt to Israeli attacks and Israel's withdrawal from all Lebanese territory must come first.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday renewed his call for Lebanese authorities to end what he described as concessions and review the course of negotiations, calling for direct talks to be suspended in favour of indirect negotiations.

His comments came on the second anniversary of the assassination of former Hezbollah secretary-generals Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

"Let it be clear, Lebanon without resistance will disappear; the enemy wants all of Lebanon," Qassem said.

"Lebanon can only remain through its liberation and unity and the cooperation of its components. Whoever bets on retaining a part of Lebanon in exchange for abandoning the other part of the land or people is deluded."

Israel steps up attacks on southern Lebanon

Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks on several areas of southern Lebanon in recent hours, including the use of an Apache attack helicopter in a strike for the first time during the latest escalation.

The helicopter struck a commercial centre on the main road between the towns of Shoukine and Mifdoun in the Nabatieh district.

Israeli forces also carried out air strikes on Wadi Zibqin, Talouseh, Mais al-Jabal and the Al-Dabsh area, while artillery fire targeted Wadi Saluki, the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Al-Mansouri and Wadi Zibqin.

Israeli forces also opened machine-gun fire towards the outskirts of Kfar Shuba in the Azrael area, as well as Sarbin and the Al-Sadana area.

An explosion was also carried out by Israeli forces in Mais al-Jabal, while illumination flares were fired over Hadatha-Haris and Wadi Saluki.

The escalation comes as Israeli media reports suggest southern Lebanon could enter a new phase in the coming days following the completion of what Israel described as "clearing" operations on the Ali al-Taher heights and the destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure in the area.

Direct negotiations remain suspended despite Washington previously announcing that talks would take place in October.