A Lebanese source revealed on Wednesday to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the US is pushing Lebanon toward an agreement with Israel that would be "less than normalization" but "more than a ceasefire agreement."
The source indicated that the goal is to establish effective border control that would prevent Hezbollah from utilizing its weapons arsenal. According to the source, "Washington is well aware that Lebanon is incapable of normalizing relations with Israel," yet continues to apply diplomatic pressure.
In this context, US envoy Morgan Ortagus is scheduled to visit Lebanon following Eid al-Fitr celebrations in early April. The Lebanese source claimed that Israel is undermining the government's efforts to disarm Hezbollah by violating the existing ceasefire agreement.
Within Hezbollah's inner circles, there is growing apprehension that the American envoy will demand a specific timeline for disarming the terrorist organization during her upcoming visit. Earlier this week, Ortagus publicly questioned: "What can the Lebanese Armed Forces do to uphold the ceasefire and disarm Hezbollah in the south of the country?"
Diplomatic sources in Lebanon have confirmed that Ortagus is expected to present a comprehensive roadmap built on three fundamental pillars: disarming Hezbollah completely, cutting off its financial resources, and implementing strategies to diminish its influence in future parliamentary elections.
