US Notes on Lebanon's Performance... What Does the US Envoy Bring to Beirut?

With the countdown beginning for the end of UNIFIL forces' mission in the south, US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz will arrive in Lebanon within hours. He will tour Lebanese officials, presenting the American proposal for the post-UNIFIL phase and the form of the force that will succeed it.

According to information from "Nidaa Al-Watan," the US position remains unchanged regarding the refusal to extend UNIFIL's mandate, as Washington shares Tel Aviv's view on this force, considering that it has failed for years to prevent Hezbollah from developing its military capabilities and completing smuggling operations across the border. The same sources do not rule out that Waltz will address the file of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel during his visit, which is witnessing notable stagnation in the current period. While the United States is striving hard to complete the negotiation track, it also has many observations on the performance of the Lebanese authority regarding the file of Hezbollah's weapons. It is expected to intensify pressure on the Lebanese side in the coming period to urge them to move this file on the ground and transition to a stage where words and promises are turned into concrete actions that restore the international community's trust in Lebanon.