A senior official from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah stated on Monday that the organization will not abide by any agreements resulting from the ongoing indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel over their disputed maritime border. The negotiations, mediated by the United States, aim to resolve a long-standing dispute over offshore gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea.
Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah's Coordination and Liaison Unit, made the declaration, emphasizing the group's firm opposition to the talks. Hezbollah, which is a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, has repeatedly stated that it considers any negotiation with Israel to be illegitimate.
The U.S.-mediated discussions have seen intermittent progress, with both sides submitting revised maps to a U.S. envoy. The core issue involves delineating the maritime boundary to determine rights to explore and exploit hydrocarbon resources in an area of about 860 square kilometers (330 square miles).
Hezbollah's position introduces a significant complication for the Lebanese government, which is seeking a deal to potentially unlock valuable energy resources for its crippled economy. The group has previously warned it could take action if it perceives Lebanese sovereignty over its resources to be compromised.
