US will chair tripartite mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations: Senior official

A senior US administration official told reporters on Tuesday that Washington will now chair the pre-existing tripartite mechanism established between Israel and Lebanon in 2006, and will also bring France into the fold to monitor any ceasefire violations. 

Hezbollah is first expected to move north of the Litani River in Lebanon's south, the deal stipulates. 

The Lebanese military would then deploy south of the river using some 5,000 troops, who will also dismantle the arms facilities there. 

All of Hezbollah's "heavy weaponry" will be removed, the official said.  

"The United States, together with France, are going to be joining an existing mechanism, referred to as the tripartite mechanism. This is something that was created shortly after the 2006 war to include Unifil, the UN force in Lebanon and Israel," the official explained.

"It will be reformulated and enhanced to include France and to be chaired by the United States. What this means is that the United States, both through diplomats and military personnel, are going to be receiving any complaints by either side of the of any potential violations. If they are there, they will work with the Lebanese army to make sure that its capacity is building, its training is the necessary training is provided, and that information can flow on a real time basis to make sure that any potential violations are deterred."