Report: Qatar, Turkey leading efforts to resolve situation in south Lebanon

Qatar and Turkey are spearheading secret contacts and efforts to resolve the situation in south Lebanon and subsequently address Hezbollah’s status, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday.

“Indications suggest that each side is acting independently, with no unified initiative in place. The initial phase of these contacts focuses on de-escalating tensions in the south, with the aim -- should these efforts succeed -- of moving on to discuss the future of Hezbollah’s arsenal,” the daily said.

Furthermore, Nidaa al-Watan said there is a proposal led by several nations -- foremost among them France and Germany -- to extend the mandate of UNIFIL by six months.

“This move seeks to explore the trajectory of developments in Lebanon, Iran, and the wider region, while averting any security vacuum. The proposal is currently awaiting the respective positions of the United States and Israel,” the newspaper added.