Lebanese officials hold positive talks with US envoy

Senior Lebanese officials described Saturday’s meetings with U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus as encouraging and productive. Her visit centered around the situation in southern Lebanon, where a fragile truce remains in place between Hezbollah and Israel.

President Joseph Aoun and Ortagus reportedly discussed several key issues, including the Israeli military’s partial withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the role of international monitors, and the overall implementation of the ceasefire. According to a statement from the presidency, the talks were deemed constructive, and efforts continue to ensure compliance with agreements tied to the region’s stability.

The United States leads a joint monitoring group, which includes France, overseeing adherence to the ceasefire deal that ended prolonged hostilities and an intense two-month war between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite the agreement reached on November 27, Israel continues to maintain troops in five locations in southern Lebanon, which it considers vital strategic positions. Under the terms of the truce, Hezbollah was expected to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed the importance of ongoing cooperation with the Lebanese Army and United Nations peacekeepers to implement Security Council Resolution 1701. This resolution, adopted following the 2006 war, mandates that only official Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL operate in the region, and that non-state militias be disarmed.

Tackling Border Tensions and Economic Reforms

In addition to the border issues, the talks also addressed the increasingly tense Syrian-Lebanese border, where violent clashes occurred last month. The focus was on preventing further instability and halting cross-border smuggling. Hezbollah, which maintains significant influence in the border areas, has been a focal point of Israeli airstrikes over the years. A recent bilateral agreement signed by the Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers aims to enhance coordination along the border, which lacks formal demarcation.

Ortagus also engaged in separate meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah, and Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal. Discussions included Israel’s ongoing military actions, violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and the urgency of moving forward with economic and administrative reforms.

The visit came one day after Lebanon’s newly appointed central bank governor, Karim Souaid, assumed office. Souaid has pledged to tackle corruption and push for long-overdue structural reforms needed to secure international financial aid. Talks between Ortagus and Lebanese officials emphasized the need to finalize an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to address Lebanon’s economic collapse, which has persisted for years.

On her previous visit in February, Ortagus stirred controversy among Hezbollah supporters by declaring that the group had been defeated by Israel and claiming its era of influence was over. Despite the damage sustained during the conflict, Hezbollah remains operational and active.

As part of a wider diplomatic initiative, Ortagus has indicated that the United States and France will soon launch working groups to address lingering border disputes and Israel’s continued presence in Lebanese territory. The goal, she said, is to achieve a lasting political resolution to these long-standing issues.