US Supports Shiite Engagement Amid Israeli Pullback
The visit of U.S. Ambassador Michel Aissa to the Lebanese Islamic Supreme Council confirmed that the United States is seeking to strengthen its relations with the Shiite community in Lebanon through reassuring messages and calls for dialogue, particularly regarding Hezbollah's weapons and the future Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories. The meeting emphasized the necessity for such dialogue to occur under the auspices of the Lebanese state, with Al-Khatib underscoring that the Shiite community only took up arms in response to Israeli attacks and that they are willing to address the weapons issue if guarantees and protections are provided. Aissa also reiterated that his country's goal is to disarm Hezbollah, though there is hesitancy about direct negotiations with the group, stressing the importance of Israeli guarantees concerning the withdrawal, despite differing views on whether this is feasible. The meeting highlighted U.S. aspirations for rapprochement and reconciliation with the Shiite community, emphasizing that solutions must be within the framework of the Lebanese state, while also pointing out clear disagreements over the nature of the solutions and the future of weapons in Lebanon.
تنويه: هذا ملخص تم إنشاؤه بواسطة الذكاء الاصطناعي
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