Lebanon Oversight Committee Success Depends on Implementation Mechanism: Col. Abbas Dahouk
A ceasefire agreement came into force between the Lebanese-based group Hezbollah and Israel, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, to put an end to the 14-month fighting between both sides.
Under the agreement, both sides have an initial 60-day halt in fighting, during which Hezbollah ends its armed presence in southern Lebanon while Israel gradually withdraws its troops to the other side of the border.
Moreover, the ceasefire deal involves the deployment of additional Lebanese troops and UN Peacekeepers in the south, with an international panel, led by the US, monitoring compliance.
Hence, the US joins France, UNIFIL, Lebanese army, and the Israeli military in an oversight committee to provide the necessary assistance to make sure the deal is implemented fully and effectively. However, the mechanism of this committee’s operation is not yet clear.
Implementation Mechanism
Speaking to Independent Arabia, the Former Senior Military Advisor to US Department of State, Colonel Abbas Dahouk, said that the US is playing a pivotal role in monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
This involves the presence of a US general overseeing the process, but no American troops will be deployed on the ground, he added.
Intelligence Exchange
Furthermore, Dahouk said that the oversight process will include the exchange of intelligence among the US, British and French intelligence services to monitor the movements of Hezbollah.
The UK, despite not being a member of the committee, had previously gathered intelligence on Hezbollah and shared it with the relevant agencies.
In the case of ceasefire violations, there will be an exchange of actionable intelligence with the Lebanese Armed Forces or Israel to take the necessary actions, Dahouk explained.
Oversight Committee Success
The oversight process includes halting hostilities, limiting the possession of weapons to legitimate groups, dismantling illegal facilities that produce weapons or related material, dismantling all military infrastructure and sites, and seizing illegal weapons.
In the light of this, Col. Dahouk noted that the duration and success of the oversight committee depend on the implementation mechanism, which involves the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL. It also depends on the Lebanese political will to authorize the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
However, the implementation of the necessary measures without being perceived as defending Israel’s interests might prove a challenge for the Lebanese Armed Forces, Dahouk said
“Ultimately, the time has come for the Lebanese government and people to take charge of what is going on in Lebanon,” he added.
