Israel and Lebanon agree on four nations to verify Hezbollah disarmament

Israel and Lebanon have landed on a shortlist of four countries, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia, whose troops or personnel could be deployed to southern Lebanon to verify that Hezbollah is actually laying down its arms. The agreement was reached during discussions at the US Embassy in Rome, marking the most concrete progress yet in a diplomatic process that has been grinding forward for months.

The verification mechanism is tied to a broader US-brokered framework announced on June 26, 2026, which links phased Israeli military withdrawals from Lebanon to demonstrable steps by Beirut to disarm the Iran-backed militant group. Washington is expected to make the final call on which of the four nations will participate.

How the verification would work

The proposed mechanism centers on designated “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon. Foreign personnel from the selected countries would operate in these areas to confirm that Hezbollah’s weapons are being brought under Lebanese state control.

Two decades of unfinished business

The roots of this agreement stretch back to the 2006 Lebanon War, which ended with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. That resolution called for Hezbollah’s weapons to fall under state oversight and established UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, to help maintain order along the border.

Lebanon constituted a new government in 2025-2026 dedicated to establishing a state monopoly on arms, sanctioning a multi-phase plan for the Lebanese Armed Forces. The successful completion of the first phase south of the Litani River earlier in 2026 showcases Lebanon’s commitment to this plan. Current negotiations on a verification mechanism build upon these frameworks and utilize US-facilitated communication channels involving France, Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL.

The new verification mechanism represents a different approach. Rather than relying on an existing UN force with a broad mandate, this proposal would deploy personnel specifically tasked with confirming disarmament milestones. The pilot zone concept suggests a phased rollout, testing whether the mechanism works in limited areas before expanding it.

Lebanon’s government has framed its participation as consistent with a long-standing objective: consolidating all weaponry under state control.

What makes this round different

The June 2026 framework creates a direct link between Israeli withdrawals and Lebanese disarmament actions. Israel gets verifiable evidence that Hezbollah’s military capability is being degraded before it pulls back forces. Lebanon gets a concrete timeline for ending Israeli military presence on its territory.

The Rome venue for the negotiations is itself meaningful. Italy has long been one of the largest troop contributors to UNIFIL, and its capital offers neutral diplomatic ground. Holding talks at the US Embassy kept Washington’s fingerprints on the process without staging the negotiations on American soil.

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