US watching developments at Ali al-Taher Ridge, says US Beirut envoy
The United States is waiting to see what unfolds over the next two days at the Ali al-Taher Ridge in Southern Lebanon, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s MTV television network.Issa spoke after meeting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Lebanon’s highest Sunni religious leader. He said the two discussed Lebanon’s future and “the importance of coexistence,” and that he had told the mufti that Washington “stands with the Lebanese people” and wants the country to be safe and independent.Issa said the “model areas” were making progress, adding that everything agreed upon takes time to achieve. He was referring to the pilot zones set out under the June 26 framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, under which the Lebanese Armed Forces deploy as Israeli troops withdraw.The ridge in Southern Lebanon sits above an extensive Hezbollah tunnel complex spanning more than a kilometer. The site…
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa stated on Wednesday that the United States is closely monitoring developments at the Ali al-Taher Ridge in Southern Lebanon over the next two days. This follows a June 26 framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to deploy as Israeli troops withdraw. The ridge is significant due to an extensive Hezbollah tunnel complex beneath it, believed to still contain trapped terrorists. Issa, after meeting with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, emphasized U.S. support for a safe and independent Lebanon. Concurrently, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged LAF commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal to advance negotiations on disarming Hezbollah, following recent trilateral talks in Italy. Hezbollah, however, has publicly rejected laying down arms, with leader Naim Qassem stating, "Direct negotiations have brought Lebanon nothing except shame, humiliation, disappointment and one concession after another."
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