Overview

• Lebanon’s cabinet tasked its army with drafting by year-end a phased roadmap to restrict all weapons to the state and disarm Hezbollah under a US-endorsed text of 11 objectives.
• Under the plan’s first phase, Hezbollah would surrender its arsenal in exchange for Israel halting ground, air and sea operations and withdrawing troops from Lebanese territory.
• Barrack met President Michel Aoun in Beirut and said Washington is discussing economic incentives with Israel to bolster implementation and restore prosperity in Lebanon.
• Israel has continued limited strikes in southern Lebanon and maintained positions at strategic hilltops despite the November ceasefire and Lebanon’s endorsement of the roadmap.
• Hezbollah has refused to negotiate an arms handover until Israel stops its strikes and withdraws, warning that any attempt to seize its weapons could trigger civil unrest.