US hails Lebanon’s response to Hezbollah disarmament plan

US special envoy Thomas Barrack said he was “unbelievably satisfied” with Lebanon’s response to a US proposal aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military wing, The New Arab reported via Reuters on July 7th.

Speaking after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, Barrack described Beirut’s answer as “something spectacular in a very short period of time,” although he refrained from disclosing the specifics.

The American proposal, issued to Lebanese officials on June 19th, demands the full disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed factions in return for an Israeli withdrawal from several strategic posts in southern Lebanon and an end to Israeli airstrikes. It also calls for outlining the long-disputed Lebanon-Israel border. On June 23rd as reported by Maghrebi via Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned that the region cannot withstand a widening of the conflict, and called for diplomacy.

According to Lebanese media reports, Beirut has offered a “balanced” response designed to reconcile Washington’s demands with the country’s internal dynamics while preserving Hezbollah’s political role. The document reaffirms Lebanon’s adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which requires the full disarmament of all militias, state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, and an Israeli withdrawal from occupied positions.

The government also demanded the renewal of UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mandate, additional financial support for the Lebanese army, and the creation of a permanent ceasefire monitoring mechanism. It urged the US to pressure Israel to halt near-daily strikes, which have continued since the November 27th ceasefire.

The “balanced” response further includes disarming Palestinian groups inside Lebanon’s 12 refugee camps, strengthening ties with post-Assad Syria, securing the porous border, and managing the return of over a million Syrian refugees.

As reported by Maghrebi via the National on July 6th, Hezbollah’s leadership has been divided on whether to accept the terms. Reportedly, international donors have made clear that sustainable aid will only follow meaningful reforms and disarmament.

The New Arab, Maghrebi.org, Reuters, The National, Asharq Al-Awsat