The name "Hezbollah" does not fade from the daily diplomatic reports issued from Beirut and directed to decision-making capitals and others, with Washington, the chief decision-maker in the region, at the forefront.

Diplomatic missions have been examining daily occurrences in the south from the first day of the war up to the ceasefire agreement. Military attachés collaborate with retired Lebanese officers, providing military and logistical reports on the party's status and capabilities in the areas it once sought to control, particularly south of the Litani. It is no secret that embassies are aware of everything happening within ministries and administrations, including personnel numbers, as well as the realities of military institutions and their needs.

Regarding the future of the south, all eyes are on what Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal will present in today’s government session, outlining the plan to be implemented north of the Litani—a plan he will carry with him before his trip to the U.S., where a series of meetings has been organized for him. Diplomacies in Washington and Doha have played a role in paving the way for the anticipated Haykal visit, which is expected to have several repercussions on the upcoming support conference for the army in March.

A Western diplomat, through his examination and monitoring of the situation on the ground in the south, has recorded several points. He reached the following conclusions:

– The party no longer possesses any military effectiveness in towns south of the Litani, particularly in the border areas. The Lebanese army played a significant role in seizing large quantities of the party's weapons stored in warehouses and tunnels. Several reports prepared by UNIFIL extensively addressed this issue, while also praising the missions carried out by the army.

– It is confirmed that the retention of the party's weapons is not permitted anywhere in Lebanon, and their removal is necessary, particularly from south of the Litani River to its northern areas.

– The diplomat believes it is necessary to keep the party under “intensive care” and prevent it from regaining military strength, at least with our knowledge, without eliminating its bases, which remain key to its options and continue to command strong support among Shia voters in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He notes that there is no sign of the party’s popularity declining in areas where its base is established. The party remains one of the first political entities eager to hold elections on its own schedule and, together with Speaker Nabih Berri, is capable of securing all 27 Shia seats.

– Following up on the meetings of the “mechanism” committee, it is observed that Israel is working vigorously to exclude the French from its membership, even though France seeks to include civilians on the committee—a goal pursued by requesting Lebanon to appoint Ambassador Simon Karam to head its delegation. Tel Aviv does not intend to stop there, aiming to push Lebanon into a security agreement even if all of the party's weapons are removed, while the international and Arab communities remain insistent that not a single weapon outside Lebanese authority remain in the south. Israel does not appear to be in a hurry for a peace agreement with Lebanon or for the establishment of diplomatic relations, though it does not rule them out in the future. Its primary focus is on securing agreements in Gaza and Lebanon similar to those being prepared with the Ahmad Al-Sharaa authority in Syria, despite Syria having sole control over its decisions, unlike Lebanon, which is governed by multiple authorities.

– Ensuring the role of UNIFIL and the completion of its missions by the end of the current year. There is no objection to retaining European units in the south, with several countries—such as France, Spain, and Italy—expressing their readiness to participate.