US envoy urges Hezbollah to surrender weapons to end Israeli attacks

US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has called on Hezbollah to surrender its weapons, saying Israeli attacks would stop once the Iran-backed group gives up its arsenal.

Speaking to reporters on August 14 after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Issa said the United States believed disarmament could bring an end to the attacks, Al Arabiya reports. 

“Attacks will stop when it is time,” Issa told reporters after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “And, also, you should tell Hezbollah that if they give up their weapons, everything will stop.”

Israel has increasingly focused its military operations in recent months on the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge, located just under 2,000 feet (610 metres) above sea level near the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh.

Hezbollah operatives and command centres are believed to be present in the area, including underground facilities.

Asked whether Washington supports Israeli attacks on Ali al-Taher, Issa said he did not know.

“You know more than I do,” he said.

On so-called pilot zones, Issa said an assessment of the initial zones would have to be completed before additional areas could be selected.

He also said a shortlist of countries had been prepared as potential participants in a third-party verification mechanism in southern Lebanon, but provided no further details.

Lebanon and Israel have been holding direct, US-brokered talks for several months, with recent rounds taking place in Rome. Issa said no date had yet been set for the next meeting.

However, a State Department official told Al Arabiya English this week that the next round of talks is expected to take place in early September.

By Sabina Mammadli