Qatar is seeking to help prevent further Israeli advances in southern Lebanon by facilitating Hezbollah fighters’ withdrawal from strategic positions and transferring them to the Lebanese army, as Doha steps up diplomatic efforts to address the group’s weapons and avert a wider conflict, according to information obtained by Nidaa Al Watan.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is due to arrive in Beirut at the invitation of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. His agenda is expected to extend beyond routine diplomatic meetings to some of Lebanon’s most sensitive issues, including the future of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah’s arsenal and the role of the Lebanese state in any potential settlement.

According to Nidaa Al Watan, Qatar had been involved in contacts over Ali al-Taher Hill in recent months. After efforts to hand over the position to the Lebanese army stalled, battlefield dynamics shifted and Hezbollah’s ability to hold its positions weakened. Qatari mediation reportedly helped facilitate the withdrawal of Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fighters before Israeli forces advanced.

If confirmed, the role would mark a shift from diplomatic messaging to direct efforts to manage withdrawals and prevent further losses.

Qatar pushes for a lasting resolution to Hezbollah’s weapons

Doha is also seeking to address Hezbollah’s weapons, but the proposed approach differs from previous arrangements that allowed the group to retain its arsenal outside state control for years.

According to the information reported by Nidaa Al Watan, Qatar is exploring a definitive resolution rather than another temporary compromise. The initiative is not primarily described as a way to secure political concessions for Hezbollah, but as an effort to prevent the conflict from expanding, protect what remains of southern Lebanon and create conditions for reconstruction.

The Rihan Mount has emerged as another key focus. Following developments at Ali al-Taher Hill, the priority is to prevent the area from suffering a similar fate. One possible arrangement would involve Hezbollah fighters withdrawing from their positions and handing them over to the Lebanese army.

The proposal could be conveyed to Hezbollah through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri if the ongoing contacts advance and the ideas under discussion develop into an agreement that can be implemented. Its success would depend on the parties’ acceptance and their willingness to give way to an expanded deployment of state forces.