The American site ‘Axios’ reported that the Israeli-Lebanese meeting in Naqoura was under American sponsorship to discuss economic projects near the border. An American official confirmed that the United States hopes this meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials, known as the ‘Mechanism Committee’ meeting, will help ease tensions between Tel Aviv and Beirut. He pointed out that President Donald Trump’s administration considers the resumption of war by Israel unlikely in the coming weeks.
Axios quoted a White House official saying: ‘The United States expressed hope that the meeting in Naqoura would help ease tensions between the two countries and assist in avoiding the resumption of war in Lebanon.’ American and Israeli officials told Axios that ‘the Israeli government informed the Trump administration in recent months that the Lebanese government is not doing enough to implement its decision to disarm Hezbollah.’ The White House was also warned that if Hezbollah continues to rearm at the current rate, Israel might be forced to resume war to weaken the armed group again.
An American official explained that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had appointed former ambassador and lawyer Simon Karam to head the meetings of the Committee for the Implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement with Israel, known as the Mechanism. The ‘Mechanism Committee’ is known as a framework that brings together Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ‘UNIFIL,’ under American-French sponsorship, aimed at monitoring the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement. It was officially re-established in November 2024 following a ceasefire agreement, forming a development of the tripartite committee that emerged from Resolution 1701 after the July 2006 war.
On Wednesday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the meeting of the Mechanism Committee in Lebanon was held in a positive atmosphere and witnessed an agreement on formulating ideas to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. Israel noted during the meeting that disarming Hezbollah is an ongoing commitment and not related to enhancing economic cooperation with Lebanon. The committee acts as an indirect communication channel, presenting daily field reports and discussing all types of violations, whether aerial, maritime, or along the Blue Line.
According to a United Nations document, the committee is tasked with four main functions: monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, establishing verification and inspection mechanisms at specific points south of the Litani River, collecting and exchanging field information through UNIFIL, and supporting the Lebanese army in deployment and control operations in the border area. The ceasefire agreement between ‘Hezbollah’ and Israel came into effect on November 27, 2024, more than a year after ‘Hezbollah’ opened what it called the ‘Support Front for the Gaza Sector’ on October 8, 2023.
The Israeli army was supposed to complete its withdrawal from the areas it occupied in southern Lebanon by the dawn of January 26, 2025. However, Israel did not adhere to the deadline and maintained its military presence in five strategic points in southern Lebanon, justifying it as ensuring the protection of northern settlements. Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally launches strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are to remove ‘Hezbollah threats.’
