Ceasefire committee meets with Ortagus and CENTCOM chief present

The U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring committee gathered Sunday in Ras al-Naqoura, bringing together American envoy Morgan Ortagus and Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, to review the fragile calm along Lebanon’s southern border. Their arrival follows a series of high-level meetings, with Ortagus landing earlier in Beirut and Cooper having already met Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun as well as Israeli officials in recent days.

Focus on Army Capabilities and Hezbollah Disarmament

According to Lebanese media, the latest U.S. discussions will center on the Lebanese Army’s operational needs and its capacity to implement a controversial government decision announced Friday. The cabinet had formally endorsed a plan empowering the army to begin the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon—a move long sought by Washington and its allies. France welcomed the announcement as a “positive step,” though reaction within Lebanon has been divided, with Hezbollah and its partners boycotting the cabinet session.

U.S. Pressure and Regional Dynamics

Admiral Cooper praised the Lebanese Army’s role in maintaining stability in the south and reaffirmed continued U.S. support. He also emphasized the importance of the committee—referred to as the “Mechanism”—in enforcing the terms of the November ceasefire that paused more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Yet despite the truce, Israel has kept up targeted strikes on Hezbollah positions, insisting these will continue until the group is fully disarmed. Israeli troops also remain stationed in five strategic sites in southern Lebanon, underscoring the unresolved tensions.

Challenges Ahead for Implementation

Information Minister Paul Morcos, speaking after Friday’s cabinet session, confirmed that the army would begin executing the plan “in accordance with the available capabilities.” Army leadership, however, has cautioned about significant constraints, including ongoing Israeli strikes, that could hamper progress. The government has made clear that success depends not only on Lebanon’s internal efforts but also on reciprocal commitments from Israel. For now, no timeline has been set, leaving the process uncertain.

The push to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal comes amid mounting U.S. pressure and fears of renewed escalation with Israel. For Beirut, the stakes are high: the decision could reshape Lebanon’s fragile political and security landscape, either paving the way toward greater stability or triggering further instability if the process falters.