Diplomatic efforts at the United Nations are increasingly focused on arrangements for southern Lebanon after the expected end of the U.N. peacekeeping mission, continued support for the Lebanese army and efforts to tie Beirut's commitments on Hezbollah's weapons and reforms to international backing, U.N. sources told Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al Watan.

The sources said the first round of high-level discussions at the U.N. General Assembly was unlikely to produce a formal breakthrough on Lebanon or the future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

But behind the scenes, the diplomatic activity in New York is centered on determining what security arrangements could replace UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, while maintaining U.S. support for the Lebanese army and using Beirut's commitments on disarming Hezbollah and implementing reforms to secure support for reconstruction, attract investment and build political backing, the sources said.

The discussions come as UNIFIL's mandate approaches its scheduled end at the close of this year, raising concerns over a potential security gap in southern Lebanon.

Push for a UN-Backed Alternative

According to the U.N. sources, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's request to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is aimed at reaching an early political agreement on an alternative mechanism that could operate under the U.N. umbrella, if possible.

The sources said such a mechanism would need to preserve three key functions currently associated with the international presence in the south.

These include monitoring the Blue Line and security developments, preparing reports and coordinating communications between Lebanon, Israel and international actors, and supporting the gradual expansion of Lebanese state authority across southern Lebanon.

The sources said the issue is now being examined particularly closely by Washington and European governments, for whom the key test will be whether any new arrangement can be linked to a verifiable deployment of the Lebanese army and a tangible reduction in Hezbollah's independent military role.

Israel's concern, meanwhile, is whether a successor arrangement would produce concrete and enforceable security results rather than simply establish another monitoring mechanism, the sources said.

They said Israel would be wary of any system that Hezbollah could benefit from while continuing to operate under its umbrella.

Lebanon Seeks International Backing

Salam has made the future of the international presence in southern Lebanon a central issue during his meetings in New York.

In talks with Guterres, he called for the continuation of an international presence under the U.N. umbrella to ensure that monitoring, reporting and liaison functions continue after UNIFIL's mandate ends.

He also discussed the issue with Jordan's King Abdullah II, stressing the need for a successor force with an international mandate to prevent a security vacuum, alongside continued international support for the Lebanese army.

The diplomatic effort has also received support from France. President Emmanuel Macron told the General Assembly that Lebanon's sovereignty must be respected and said the Lebanese state alone could address the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.

Macron also said France would work with Italy and other partners to find what he called an "effective solution" for the international presence in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL.

Displacement Remains a Priority

A senior political source told Nidaa Al Watan that Lebanon's diplomatic and presidential efforts were focused on maintaining an international presence in the south after UNIFIL's mission ends.

But the source said the government was simultaneously dealing with the situation of Lebanese who remain displaced and unable to return to their homes because of the security situation in southern Lebanon.

"The government is mobilizing all international organizations in this regard to secure shelter, education and food supplies, as around 330,000 displaced people remain unable to return to their areas," the source said.

The source described the issue as a major government priority alongside the diplomatic effort over the future of the south.

Eighth Round of Talks

The same source said a series of meetings and contacts were taking place away from the spotlight to prepare the conditions for the eighth round of negotiations, scheduled to be held in Rome during the first half of next month.

The source also pointed to what it described as a positive shift in some domestic positions, particularly former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt's expression of support for direct negotiations during a meeting at the presidential palace.

The source said the change in the domestic political climate could help prepare the ground for the next round.

At the broader diplomatic level, Salam has sought to present the Lebanese government's position as one centered on state sovereignty and the consolidation of state authority.

Speaking to the Lebanese community in New York, he said the government had taken "important and consequential decisions" on the weapons issue and would implement them "regardless of the difficulties."

"There can be no state with two armies and no state with two decisions," Salam said.