Report: US tells Aoun it'll discuss with Israel plan leading to full withdrawal
Sources close to President Joseph Aoun have said that he is “awaiting a new proposal from the Americans, one that goes beyond previous formulas,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The sources said Aoun has been informed by the Americans that they are in the process of contacting the Israelis regarding a program that could lead to a complete Israeli withdrawal
According to these sources, what Aoun is waiting for is not a general commitment to withdrawal, but rather a comprehensive plan that specifies the stages, mechanisms and parties that could assume the required roles in the south.
This is especially relevant given Washington's insistence on ending the UNIFIL mission by the end of this year and its continued rejection of French proposals to maintain an observer force in the south.
The sources added that the Americans promised the president “a plan, a verification mechanism, and a list of the parties that could play a role in the south.”
Th sources also said that Aoun has promised the Americans that if they provide serious and clear guarantees regarding withdrawal and security arrangements, he will be ready to put Hezbollah's weapons on the table for discussion on a national level.
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