Lebanon seeks truce progress amid $1.8 billion in regional damages

Lebanese Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazzar, expressed cautious optimism regarding potential truce negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. Speaking at the Rimini Meeting, Jazzar noted that while recent negotiations in Rome addressed previously untouched issues—such as border disputes and prisoner exchanges—significant challenges remain. Key unresolved points include the mechanics of Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the verification process in specific regions.

The ambassador highlighted the severe humanitarian and economic toll of ongoing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, estimating damages at approximately $1.8 billion. This includes destruction to infrastructure, the electrical grid, and roughly 20 percent of the region's agricultural land. She emphasized that reconstruction must address both material needs and socio-economic stability.

Separately, reports from the Shatila refugee camp underscore the precarious situation of Palestinians living in Lebanon. These populations face extreme marginalization, lacking legal rights to employment, property ownership, or essential state services, leaving them largely dependent on international organizations like UNRWA.