Lebanon Engages in Swiss Talks for Calm, Washington Focuses on Arms and Borders

Lebanon, once known as the "Switzerland of the East," has shifted through successive "resistance" projects into what has been described as the "swamp of the East." Yesterday, its name resurfaced in Switzerland—not as a symbol of prosperity disrupted by "axis" militias, but as a subject on the agenda of US-Iran talks held at the Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, where a ceasefire on the Lebanese front led the discussions. From this setting, two parallel approaches have emerged: one between Washington and Tehran aimed at preventing renewed confrontation and containing its regional repercussions; the other concerns the upcoming Lebanese-Israeli negotiations scheduled for tomorrow, addressing key sovereign and security issues such as Israeli withdrawal, border demarcation, military deployment mechanisms, state authority extension, and the monopoly of arms by the state.

US President Donald Trump's statements clearly reflected this division of roles. On one hand, he pressured Tel Aviv to accept de-escalation; on the other, he held Tehran responsible for restraining its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning of intensified US strikes should escalation continue. These threats prompted a response from Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Conflicting reports added to the uncertainty: Tasnim Agency reported that the Iranian delegation left the talks in protest over Trump's remarks, while Axios stated the delegation did not withdraw. Consequently, the "Switzerland of the East" issue seemed to complicate the Swiss negotiations.

Within the broader regional context and its impact on Lebanon, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar'a clarified in an interview with Al-Mashhad channel that Trump's remarks about Lebanon were misunderstood, denying any intention of Syrian forces entering Lebanese territory or Damascus undertaking Hezbollah's disarmament. He affirmed that the discussion concerns a positive Syrian role that could contribute to resolving the crisis. Al-Shar'a emphasized that Lebanon's stability is directly linked to Syria's security, urging Hezbollah to find a place within the state and prioritize Lebanese interests over other considerations.

Amid this complex interplay, the clearest equation for Lebanon remains that Switzerland serves as a platform to extinguish the fire, while Washington remains the arena to address the conflict's roots and outline arrangements for the next phase between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

In this context, it has been learned that the Lebanese negotiating team received final instructions from President Joseph Aoun, with communication lines remaining open between Aoun, delegation head Simon Karam, Ambassador Nada Mawwad, and both the civilian and military delegations. The first day of negotiations will be joint, with Lebanese and Israeli delegations meeting in both their civilian and military components. The second day will focus exclusively on military discussions, while the third day is reserved for political negotiations led by Karam.

Information indicates that the Lebanese delegation will renew its proposal to designate the Nabatieh area as a pilot zone, although Israeli rejection of this proposal is expected. Alternatively, the coastal stretch from Tyre to Zahrani and Sidon may be proposed as a pilot area, but prevailing sentiments confirm continued Israeli opposition, especially following advances in the Ali al-Taher area, one of Hezbollah’s largest military centers in the south. This Israeli rejection reflects Tel Aviv’s stance on the settlement, treating the ceasefire as a temporary truce and insisting on maintaining its forces within what it terms "security zones." In this regard, Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "We will reach an agreement with Lebanon when we eliminate the Hezbollah threat." Additionally, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the army will begin reducing its troop numbers in southern Lebanon in the coming days after completing most offensive tasks, with both Lebanese and Israeli sides set to determine this week the areas from which Hezbollah has withdrawn, preparing to hand them over to the Lebanese army.

Alongside the negotiation track, it has been reported that President Joseph Aoun is considering successive visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to thank them for their roles in halting escalation and to consult on the next phase and the Washington negotiations. Reports also indicate that Aoun’s itinerary includes a visit to Turkey, where he will meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss bilateral relations and Ankara’s potential role in the upcoming regional phase.

While there are rumors about a possible visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Lebanon in the coming days, it has been confirmed that the Lebanese state has not received any official notification. Moreover, Araghchi did not inform President Aoun of any intention to visit Beirut during their recent communication. It is known that Araghchi plans a regional tour, but whether Lebanon is included remains undecided.

Contrasting with the state’s approach, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem rejected any ceasefire that would allow Israel freedom of movement. He argued that a genuine truce requires halting operations by air, land, and sea, as well as stopping demolition activities, paving the way for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

Qassem urged the government to benefit from Iranian support and to use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, while expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of direct negotiations with Israel. He asserted that Iran emerged from the war stronger and that the project to end Hezbollah and the "resistance" has failed.

On the ground, Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal inspected operational units deployed in the areas of Nabatieh, Upper Nabatieh, Kafr Rumman, Shoukin, Al-Zarariyah, and around the town of Kfartabnit. He reviewed the operational situation, unit missions, and challenges amid ongoing Israeli attacks and violations. He stressed the importance of measures taken to ensure the safety of citizens in areas exposed to Israeli assaults and reaffirmed the army’s significant role across Lebanon, especially in the south, noting that the military institution remains a trusted entity for the Lebanese people.