Ortagus arrives in Beirut, lauds Netanyahu's statement on Lebanon

U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus arrived Monday in Beirut after she visited Israel along with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack.

Prior to her arrival, Ortagus lauded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement on Israel's readiness to gradually decrease its troop presence in south Lebanon in return for Lebanese steps to disarm Hezbollah.

According to U.S. news portal Axios, Barrack met on Sunday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding “the Trump administration’s request that Israel restrain its strikes in Lebanon, as well as about the negotiations with Syria.”

“The Trump administration is pushing simultaneously for the implementation of new security arrangements between Israel and Lebanon and between Israel and Syria as a first step toward a potential future normalization of relations,” Axios said.

U.S. officials also told the news portal that in light of the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel “has an interest in calming the situation on its borders with Syria and Lebanon and reaching new agreements with both countries.”

On Monday, Netanyahu said Israel is ready to back Lebanon's efforts to disarm Hezbollah and offered "a phased" pullout of its troops if Lebanon followed through with plans to seize the group's weapons.

"Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations," said Netanyahu, according to a statement released by his office.

Israel also acknowledged "the significant step taken by the Lebanese government," according to the statement.

“Now is the time for both Israel and Lebanon to move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared objective of disarming Hezbollah and promoting the stability and prosperity of both nations,” the statement added.