US urges Lebanon to make progress on Hezbollah’s disarmament

US envoy Tom Barrack urged Lebanon to outline a clear schedule for the disarmament of Hezbollah, following a recent military escalation between the militant group and Israel, according to The New Arab on July 22nd. 

Barrack informed Lebanese officials that the United States “cannot force Israel to do anything” and acknowledged that the ceasefire agreed on November 27th had not been enforced.

Despite a ceasefire agreement on November 27th, fighting has persisted, particularly in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have conducted intensive operations over the past two months to weaken Hezbollah’s presence.

He affirmed that the United States “will not abandon Lebanon” during his third visit to Beirut, although he did not present any new security assurances. 

Following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on July 22nd, Barrack described the talks as “excellent” and emphasised that the parties are “making progress, and you must remain hopeful”.

While in Beirut, he urged Lebanese leaders to outline a clear schedule for the disarmament of Hezbollah. He informed them that the United States “cannot force Israel to do anything” and acknowledged that the ceasefire agreed on November 27th had not been enforced.

Lebanon has maintained that any agreement must begin with a complete stop to Israeli assaults, an Israeli withdrawal from five occupied sites in the south, the release of Lebanese detainees, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts before any talks on Hezbollah’s weapons can proceed.

However, Barrack hinted that the US might “leave Lebanon to its fate” if no tangible action is taken, although he dismissed the idea of imposing sanctions on Lebanese officials at this time.

According to Lebanese officials, Barrack pushed for “rapid, practical steps,” beginning with the removal of heavy weaponry from areas south and north of the Litani River, followed by the same actions actions in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley.

On July 15th, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting alleged Hezbollah Radwan Force compounds in the Eastern Bekaa Valley. According to the Israeli military, the sites were used for training and planning attacks. 

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation was meant to send a “clear message” to both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah.

While Washington proposed a phased, reciprocal approach to Hezbollah’s disarmament, Beirut has declined to proceed without clear commitments that Israel will cease its daily breaches of the November deal.

President Joseph Aoun presented Barrack with a memorandum vowing to reestablish full state authority throughout Lebanon, ensure all weapons remain under the control of the national army, and keep decisions on war and peace within the official institutions. 

The document also emphasised the protection of sovereignty, reconstruction of affected regions, and economic recovery.

To date, Barrack’s visit has yielded no tangible results. Negotiations are still underway, although officials maintain that “all options remain open”.

A Hezbollah MP stated that the group’s stance remains firm, insisting that Israel must stop its attacks, withdraw from occupied areas, and release prisoners before addressing any “purely internal” matters.

The MP added: “We respected the November agreement, but Israel violated it. What guarantees that a new deal would not be breached again?”

In a televised appearance, Barrack characterised his discussions with President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as “constructive and hopeful,” although he emphasised that deep mistrust among all parties was blocking any resolution.

“Israel had its conditions, the government had its demands, but none were fulfilled. The result is continued conflict in the south, which undermines every effort at reform,” he added.

Although Barrack dismissed the possibility of direct engagement with Hezbollah, he asserted that the United States ultimately aims to persuade Israel to support a broader strategy that promotes peace and prosperity.

Regarding the upcoming renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, in August, Barrack noted that talks were still in progress and that Washington was working to identify “the right recommendation” for its future mandate.

The New Arab, Maghrebi.org