‘Everything will stop’ if Hezbollah gives up weapons, US envoy to Beirut says

US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Friday called on Hezbollah to surrender its weapons, saying Israeli attacks would stop once the Iran-backed group gives up its arsenal.

“Attacks will stop when it is time,” Issa told reporters after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “And, also, you should tell Hezbollah that if they give up their weapons, everything will stop.”

In recent months, Israel has increasingly focused its operations on the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge, located just under 2,000 feet above sea level near the southern city of Nabatieh.

Hezbollah operatives and command centers are believed to be located in the area, including in underground facilities.

Asked whether the United States supports Israeli attacks on Ali al-Taher, Issa said he did not know. “You know more than I do,” he quipped.

On pilot zones, Issa said an assessment of the initial zones would need to be completed before additional zones are determined.

He also said a shortlist of countries had been drawn up as potential participants in a third-party verification mechanism in southern Lebanon without elaborating.

Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in direct, US-brokered talks for several months, with recent rounds held in Rome. Issa said no date had yet been set for the next round.

However, a State Department official said this week that the next round of talks is expected to take place in early September.