Lebanon Will Propose Plans To Convince Hezbollah Of Guns On August 31

Badminton UNIFIL/Haidar Fahs/BP peacekeeping forces can be seen from the UNIFIL building in southern Lebanon.

JAKARTA - The United States (US) Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon, Thomas Barrack, said Lebanon would submit a proposal plan including to Israel on August 31 to convince Hezbollah to strip its weapons.

"Israel will propose a reply after accepting the Lebanese plan," Barrack said after meeting with Lebanese president in Beirut on Tuesday, August 26.

Barrack said the plan prepared by Lebanon did not necessarily involve military action to persuade Hezbollah to give up its weapon.

"The army and the Lebanese government are not talking about war. They are talking about how to convince Hezbollah to hand over the weapons," he said.

Last week, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned the Lebanese government against confrontation with the Iran-backed group.

He stated "there will be no life" in Lebanon if they do.

Hezbollah was very weak as a result of a war with Israel last year that killed many of the group's leaders and fighters.

The US-brokered peace agreement that ended the conflict required the Lebanese state to strip armed groups of weapons.

Qassem said Hezbollah and his ally, Amal, had postponed street protests against US-backed weapons removal initiatives, giving space for dialogue with the government, but future protests could target the US Embassy in Beirut.

Israel hinted it would reduce its military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese Armed Forces acted to arm Himbollah, according to a statement from Israel's prime minister's office.