Lebanon will come up with a plan on August 31 to convince Hezbollah to disarm, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon Thomas Barrack said on Tuesday. Israel will give a counterproposal when it receives Lebanon's plan,

The Israeli military has maintained a presence in southern Lebanon near the border since agreeing to the U.S.-backed ceasefire with Hezbollah in November. Israel was to withdraw its forces within two months and Lebanon's armed forces were to take control of the country's south, territory that has long been a stronghold for Hezbollah.

In the wake of US envoy Thomas Barrack and Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus visiting Israel, Beirut may feel that the US is growing in its serious desire to see real action. US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus arrived in Israel on Sunday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.