Exclusive JNews Lebanon
As state institutions push forward to implement the Framework Agreement South Lebanon to secure a full Israeli withdrawal and guarantee the safe return of displaced residents, field negotiations have hit a complex hurdle raised behind closed doors in Washington and Rome: the inspection of private properties suspected of housing weapon caches or underground tunnels. Caught between a firm military refusal to violate private residences and international pressure to enforce disarmament, the operational initiative rests with military command, which remains determined to execute political mandates without triggering domestic confrontation.
General Haikal in Zautar al-Gharbiya: Safe Return and Strict Operational Controls
In a strategic field inspection, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haikal visited military units deployed in Zautar al-Gharbiya—the primary pilot zone designated for withdrawal—to review security protocols aimed at facilitating the return of civilians whose homes survived destruction. In an official Directorate of Orientation statement, Haikal stressed the necessity of taking all necessary measures to guarantee a safe return, commending the personnel’s discipline and morale amidst ongoing risks.
The Legal Dilemma: Political Mandates vs. Judicial Warrants
Reports confirm that during negotiation rounds, Israeli officials—backed directly by Washington—attempted to impose mandatory search operations on private properties. However, military leadership refused to grant Tel Aviv such leverage, maintaining strict adherence to constitutional protections. Legal experts emphasize that while the Cabinet’s political decision to restrict illegal arms covers military operations, entering private property strictly requires explicit judicial authorization from the Military Prosecution based on verified suspicion, unless an entire sector is officially designated a closed security zone.
Clarifying recent rumors, Prosecutor General Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj decisively confirmed that no blanket warrants have been issued to search private or public properties in the South, putting an end to speculation regarding indiscriminate raids.
Jnews Exclusive: The “Third Force” Proposal and Technical Surveillance
Diplomatic and military sources exclusively revealed to “Jnews Lebanon” that the impasse over direct raids has prompted Western negotiators to re-introduce the proposal of establishing a “Third Force” (potentially led by France or serving as an evolved extension of UNIFIL, whose mandate nears its conclusion in late 2026) to manage field verification.
Our sources confirm that military leadership informed relevant international parties of its absolute rejection of any direct foreign surveillance inside Lebanese villages. Instead, Yarzeh proposed utilizing advanced radar and thermal drone systems (to be delivered under Washington understandings) to monitor village perimeters and border routes without intruding upon private residences.
“Military Source to Jnews: Yarzeh is managing the inspection file along two tracks: strict judicial cover when actionable security threats exist, and technical perimeter monitoring to prevent friction between the army and local residents.”
Political Gridlock: Berri Waits while Hezbollah Escalates
On the political front, Speaker Nabih Berri extended congratulations to President Joseph Aoun upon his return from Washington while withholding official comments pending full debriefs. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s “Loyalty to the Resistance” parliamentary bloc continued its criticism, asserting that the presidential visit failed to secure a firm US commitment to an Israeli withdrawal or halt border violations. Conversely, Baabda maintains that advancing the Framework Agreement South Lebanon remains the sole viable path toward stability and reconstruction.
