What Do Interrogations of Hezbollah Detainees in Batroun Highlands Reveal?

The issue of finding an alternative to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) tops the priorities of official and diplomatic Lebanese references, awaiting the arrival of the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Waltz, in Beirut on Monday and Tuesday next week, where he will meet with Presidents Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam, and Nabih Berri.

According to information from "Al Jadeed" channel, the official Lebanese position still prefers maintaining UNIFIL forces, but is open to various discussions, given the danger of a UN vacuum in the south and the necessity of avoiding this scenario. Lebanon awaits hearing the American proposals and suggestions that the US side will bring regarding the next phase.

Among the proposed options is finding an alternative UN formula for international forces, by incorporating the framework agreement related to Resolution 1701 into a new international resolution, ensuring its implementation, particularly the verification mechanism clause.

Information indicates that progress has also been made with the US side accepting to give France a role in this file, to avoid any UN vacuum, after Paris succeeded in convincing Washington of the importance of this role, and it is working on formulating an alternative formula for emergency forces in coordination with the United States.

In another context, security sources reported that preliminary interrogations with the five detainees belonging to Hezbollah, who were arrested in the Batroun highlands, indicate that they were on a field reconnaissance mission related to Hezbollah's military reality in the Bekaa.

According to sources, the mission is linked to the overlap of highland areas with the Western Range, in addition to the presence of areas hosting a number of displaced persons, which requires ensuring their security against any potential Israeli breach.