Barrack says Israeli 'counterproposal' to come when Lebanon presents disarmament plan

U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday that Lebanese authorities must put into "action" their decision to disarm Hezbollah, adding that Israel would respond in kind to any government steps.

"We're all greatly encouraged by the historic decision of the government a few weeks ago, but now it's not about words, now it's about action," she told journalists at Lebanon's presidential palace in Baabda.

Her comments came after talks between a U.S. delegation and President Joseph Aoun.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered "a phased" pullout of the remaining Israeli troops in Lebanon if Beirut implements its decision to disarm Hezbollah.

Ortagus said that Israel was "willing to go step by step, it might be small steps... but they're willing to go step by step with this government."

"So every step that the Lebanese government takes, we will encourage the Israeli government to make the same step," she added.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who was also part of the delegation, noted that the Lebanese Army and government are expected to present a concrete plan to disarm Hezbollah at the end of the month.

The Iran-backed militant group was severely weakened by a war with Israel last year.

"When (the Israelis) see that, they will give their counterproposal of what they will do in withdrawals and security guarantees on their borders, their boundaries," Barrack said.

"What Israel has now said, which is historic, is we don't want to occupy Lebanon," he added, saying that Israeli officials are waiting to "see what is the plan to actually disarm Hezbollah."

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has repeatedly refused to give up the group's weapons.

Under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli military action, Lebanon's government this month tasked the army with drawing up a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year.

The decision is part of a November ceasefire brokered by the United States that ended more than a year of hostilities between the group and Israel.

The agreement requires Hezbollah to redeploy its fighters north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, to be replaced by Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers.

It also requires Israel to fully withdraw from Lebanon, where it currently retains troops in five places it deems strategic.