Army-to-army talks in Florida on Oct. 20: Beirut sets terms for any coordination

A US-sponsored military session between Lebanese and Israeli army representatives is due at US Central Command in Florida on 20 October, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The paper reports that Ambassador Simon Karam is to lead the Lebanese side and that the agenda is limited to operational issues such as the ceasefire, a halt to bulldozing and prisoners.

L'Orient-Le Jour writes that Beirut attends on one main condition, with its headline pointing to direct military coordination as the sticking point. Asharq Al-Awsat adds that Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal rejects direct coordination between Lebanese troops on the ground and Israeli units; any contact must go through the existing ceasefire mechanism.

The line is consistent with the state's position that decisions on war and peace, and on weapons, belong to the legitimate institutions alone. These accounts rest on press reports, not on an official agenda, and details may change before the meeting.