CAMERAS AND DEEP SURVEILLANCE ARE THE KEY
Summary: A senior Lebanese official with close connections to the Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office has told JAFAJ that Israeli withdrawals from Shiite villages and towns in southern Lebanon will take place under the recently signed Israel-Lebanon peace framework, but only under an extensive and highly advanced surveillance system. According to the source, cameras and other surveillance equipment will be installed throughout southern Lebanon, including Hezbollah strongholds and other sensitive areas such as the southern district of Beirut. The source said this was one of Israel’s key conditions and that implementation will be overseen through the U.S.-backed Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.
1- JAFAJ has learned from a Lebanese government source with close proximity to the Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, about the details of the recent ceasefire framework signed between Israel and Lebanon and brokered by the United States.
2- The source, who was very close to the negotiations, said that the key issue the Americans were persistent about was the introduction of surveillance and the installation of cameras at every single location of significance in southern Lebanon, especially those that have historically been used by Hezbollah, including unannounced surveillance in the southern district of Beirut, which is considered Hezbollah’s stronghold in the sect-divided capital of Lebanon.
3- The source said that the installation of these surveillance systems remains one of the key conditions for Israel to evacuate certain areas it has occupied in southern Lebanon.
COMMENT: Israel has occupied large areas in southern Lebanon, mainly Shiite villages and towns loyal to Hezbollah, most of which have served as operational areas and launching grounds for military actions against Israel by Hezbollah. It is estimated that Israel now fully occupies up to 40% of southern Lebanon, including virtually the entire border strip in the southern part of the country. END COMMENT.
4- The Lebanese source added that the Israelis will start with what they call pilot areas, where they expect both the Lebanese Army to replace them and members of the Lebanese Peace Group founded by President Trump to be present and oversee the Lebanese Army’s entry and takeover. The source added that both Israel and the Americans have made it clear that they have trust issues with the Lebanese Army, which has many connections to Hezbollah, with thousands of Shiites already serving among its personnel.
5- He added that there will therefore be a significant American presence, including U.S. military personnel and officers from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, to oversee the Lebanese Army’s compliance, help keep the area peaceful, and prevent the return of Hezbollah terrorists to the areas from which Israel will be withdrawing.
6- The source said that the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, to be established by the Trump administration, will conduct both surveillance and very gradual on-the-ground operations that will, in many ways, work alongside the Lebanese Army while also monitoring it. At the same time, he made it clear that the Israelis have confirmed they are not going to withdraw from a single location without tangible guarantees and concrete steps that make the return of Hezbollah to those areas impossible.