Lebanon to reject direct military co-ordination with Israel at Florida talks

Lebanon has indicated it will not participate in direct military coordination with Israel during upcoming talks in Florida. Officials said they anticipate only limited progress before Israel's legislative elections next week. The discussions, which brought together Lebanese and Israeli military delegations in Tampa, aim to negotiate an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Israel insists on Hezbollah's disarming as a precondition for withdrawal, but Lebanon opposes the idea of direct military coordination between the two countries. Lebanon has called for continued involvement of American mediation in future talks, emphasizing the importance of a third-party verification mechanism overseen by the Lebanese Armed Forces in designated "pilot zones."

However, progress has stalled since July when the first pilot zones were established, with no agreed method for verifying compliance among all parties involved. The upcoming Israeli legislative elections, set for the end of the month, are expected to further complicate negotiations due to the uncertainty surrounding the new government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed doubts about Lebanon's ability to disarm Hezbollah, which he considers a necessary step for Israeli withdrawal from the south. While Lebanese officials express low expectations for significant outcomes from the talks, they remain committed to continuing the negotiations, focusing on repeating their demands for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.