US draft ceasefire plan calls for Israeli troop withdrawal, Lebanese army control

A draft settlement plan aimed at establishing a ceasefire along the Lebanese-Israeli border has been presented to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri by the United States.

The 13-point document, which is part of efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, proposes a transition of Lebanon’s southern areas to Lebanese army control following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, Caliber.Az reports via Asharq Al-Awsat.

The plan includes the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) providing additional support to the Lebanese army in maintaining security.

Speaker Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese government would respond to the proposal within 48 hours, but made it clear that Lebanon would not accept a key provision in the plan: the establishment of a US-led commission to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “The UN peacekeepers are already tasked with such a mission, and there is no need for an alternative mechanism,” Berri explained.

Diplomatic sources in Beirut have also expressed concerns about another clause in the draft — regarding the "right to self-defence" — which they fear could grant Israel the ability to continue violating Lebanese sovereignty under the guise of self-defence.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Israel would be required to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon within seven days of the agreement taking effect. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government would commit to efforts aimed at preventing the activities of illegal armed groups and blocking the flow of weapons to them.

Despite these concerns, Berri reported that discussions about the details of the potential agreement are ongoing, noting that “the work continues, and the atmosphere is positive.”

The draft plan builds on efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which set the terms for the ceasefire that ended the 2006 Lebanon War. This resolution mandates that southern Lebanon be free of armed groups not under Lebanese state control.

While Beirut has endorsed Resolution 1701 as a framework for resolving the current conflict, Jerusalem has insisted on retaining the right to target Hezbollah if the group violates the ceasefire or poses a threat to Israeli security.

Leaked draft proposals in recent weeks have suggested the establishment of a monitoring mechanism involving other countries, with Russia speculated as a possible participant.

The US-led talks, which have included discussions between officials from France, the US, and Israel, have been intensifying in recent weeks. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer visited Washington earlier this week to discuss the ceasefire, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Israel last week.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar highlighted the progress in discussions, emphasizing the need for an arrangement that would allow northern Israeli residents to safely return to their homes. However, he stressed that an agreement would be meaningless without on-the-ground implementation, including ensuring Hezbollah’s non-return to the border and preventing the group from rearming through the Syrian border or other channels.

Sa’ar also underscored the importance of international involvement to ensure that Lebanon’s sovereignty is restored and not controlled by Iranian-backed forces.

In Washington, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel confirmed that the US is pushing for a diplomatic resolution, aiming to allow civilians on both sides to return to their homes. Patel also reiterated that full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 is critical, specifically the disarmament of Hezbollah and its withdrawal north of the Litani River, a condition that has yet to be met.

By Tamilla Hasanova