ALWAGHT- The United States has reportedly placed significant pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah as a prerequisite for resuming talks on the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The United States and Lebanon have been engaged in weeks-long negotiations over a US-drafted plan that would see Hezbollah disarmed in exchange for an end to Israeli airstrikes and a withdrawal from five positions in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese sources, Washington has ramped up pressure on Beirut to hold a cabinet vote to disarm Hezbollah, warning that without a formal commitment, envoy Thomas Barrack will not return to Beirut or continue pressuring Israel to withdraw its forces.
Lebanese officials, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, have pushed back, demanding Israel halt its airstrikes and fully implement the ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah in November 2024. However, Israel has rejected those terms, and the US has responded by insisting on a Lebanese cabinet decision to move forward with disarmament. Barrack reportedly told Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that the US cannot force Israel to act, emphasizing that Hezbollah must disarm for any progress to be made.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, remains firmly opposed to disarmament until Israel fully complies with the ceasefire and withdraws from all Lebanese territory. The group has accused Israel of violating the agreement over 3,700 times, threatening Lebanon’s national stability. Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned that disarming Hezbollah would pave the way for further Israeli aggression, insisting that the group’s presence is a deterrent against expansion.
