
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein during a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Spraker Nabih Berri, on Jan. 6, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Monday morning ahead of a meeting of the committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, which went into effect on Nov. 27. The meeting will be held at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in Naqoura, in southern Lebanon's Sour district.
Before the meeting, Hochstein met with the Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun.
He also met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh. According to the state-run National News Agency, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will receive Hochstein at the Grand Serail at 7 p.m.
During the meeting, the Lebanese Army began to deploy in Naqoura, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the village's municipality said in a statement.
The statement emphasized that the deployment aims to facilitate the movement of military vehicles and provide access for logistics and engineering teams. It assured residents that they would be informed of the timeline and plan for their return once all necessary data is coordinated with the Lebanese Army and relevant authorities.
“The safe return will occur exclusively with the support of a Lebanese Army force and Civil Defense teams, following confirmation that there is no possible danger,” the statement added.
The visit comes as several Israeli media outlets, including Yediot Aharonot, reported over the weekend that Israel's military may maintain a presence in southern Lebanon after the 60-day cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel ends on Jan. 27.
On Sunday, Hochstein met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional issues and developments in Lebanon.
The U.S. envoy’s visit comes just three days before Lebanon’s parliamentary session on Jan. 9 to elect a president, following more than two years of vacancy due to a lack of consensus on a candidate, a common occurrence in Lebanon.
French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected in Beirut late on Tuesday, according to information obtained by L'Orient Today.