Rodolphe Haykal has arrived in Rome to discuss with Italian officials a verification mechanism for the southern Lebanese territories being cleared of weapons.
The Army Commander reached Rome yesterday, with official meetings set to begin today. The visit follows President Joseph Aoun's meetings with Italian officials in preparation for discussions based on proposals agreed with Haykal himself. Conversations have now shifted from the political to the military level.
Haykal's primary agenda focuses on who will monitor the south after UNIFIL withdraws and what verification mechanism will apply in the pilot zones being cleared in southern Lebanon.
Italy has moved prominently into this file after Israel rejected any French or Spanish monitoring role and declined to allow UNIFIL any involvement in the coming phase. The proposal is not for Italy to replace the Lebanese Army but for it to be part, alongside other nations, of a verification mechanism in areas that the Army will enter and clear completely of Hezbollah weapons and fighters.
According to information available to the Beirut Journal, Haykal will establish verification frameworks with the Italians with the Lebanese Army as the primary party on the ground, solely responsible for disarmament.
He will emphasize that the monitoring state must coordinate with the Army, operate with its knowledge, and undertake no provocative activities or actions outside Lebanese state awareness.
Italy is present in the south through UNIFIL forces and possesses long military experience there as a European nation. It represents a compromise acceptable to both Lebanon and Israel, though full agreement has not yet been reached. Israel has not formally declared approval of Italian force operations, and Italy itself has expressed reservations about acting alone without allied support from other countries.
According to information available to the Beirut Journal, Haykal is expected to discuss with Italian military officials not only the verification mechanism but also Italian support for the Lebanese Army and Italy's role in a force to be formed after UNIFIL concludes its mandate. This differs from the question of who will oversee the success of the pilot zones model.
