Israel seeks to disarm Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and maintain free access to Lebanese airspace if a ceasefire is agreed to end the war.
As Axios reports, citing US and Israeli government sources, these demands were conveyed to the White House via Special Representative Amos Hochstein ahead of his visit to the region to help end the fighting.
Israel wants to actively enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates that only the Lebanese Armed Forces should have weapons in the south of the country. Furthermore, Israel insists on maintaining freedom of action in Lebanese airspace, which it currently enjoys based on an informal agreement.
Israeli officials say the resolution has not been implemented since 2006, allowing Hezbollah to build up significant weapons stockpiles and strengthen its defensive capabilities. In his opinion, neither UN peacekeepers nor the Lebanese Armed Forces are prepared to confront the Iran-backed group. Israel presented its offensive as an attempt to compensate for the inaction of international forces and the Lebanese army.
Israeli officials stress that the implementation of resolution 1701 must be strengthened. Israel believes that if the Lebanese army and peacekeepers become more active in opposing Hezbollah, then the IDF’s actions will be less necessary.
Axios also reports that the United States supports expanding the mandate of international and Lebanese forces to more effectively counter Hezbollah militants.
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