US general to head Lebanon-Israel ceasefire committee: report

A US general will lead an international committee tasked with monitoring the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which came into effect on Wednesday, according to reports.

The ceasefire was announced on Tuesday by Israel, the US, and French leaders, Beirut made an official announcement Wednesday morning when the truce came into effect, while US envoy Amos Hochstein played a key role in mediating the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

There was also reportedly a addendum agreed with the US separate to the truce deal with Beirut which might give Israel more freedom to act in Lebanon.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was Lebanon’s main mediator and tasked by Hezbollah to speak on behalf of the group in talks.

The main outline of the deal – in line with UN Resolution 1701 which had been adopted in 2006 but never fully implemented – stipulates the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces and UN peacekeepers south of the Litani River. Israel has 60 days to pull out its forces, while Hezbollah is obligated to move its fighters north of the river.

An international monitoring committee will oversee the implementation of the ceasefire with the officials from the US, UK, and France – as well as Lebanon and Israel – on the panel. Reports had said that an Arab state would also be included, but this is yet to be confirmed.

“As part of supervising the implementation of the agreement, an American general will be present in the region, and two monitoring centres will be established for the purpose of this step in Beirut and Safed, northern Israel,” the right-wing Israel Hayom newspaper reported Tuesday evening.

The Lebanese army will be required to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, and the committee will be tasked with making sure this happens, Israel Hayom said.

President Joe Biden gave assurances there would be no US boots on the ground in Lebanon when he confirmed the truce.

A US official said there are plans to work with the Lebanese army to ensure the ceasefire deal is upheld, while France, Germany and Italy have all indicated a readiness to support the Lebanese military through training and funding.

Israeli sources have claimed that Tel Aviv was given assurances by Washington, as part of a side deal, it would be allowed to act “freely” in Lebanon in case of a violation.

In theory, Israel would inform the US-led monitoring committee of the violation, which would then ask the Lebanese army and UNIFIL to act. In the event this fails, Israel would be allowed to eliminate the suspected threat.

Lebanese officials have denied this was part of the deal, while Israeli sources insist that this was guaranteed by Washington on the sidelines of the main agreement.