The United States is intensifying pressure on Lebanon to secure a formal cabinet decision pledging to disarm Hezbollah before any further negotiations can proceed on halting Israeli military operations in the country. According to five sources including Lebanese officials and diplomats, Washington has made clear that without that documented commitment, its envoy Thomas Barrack will not return to Beirut and the U.S. will stop pressing Israel to halt airstrikes or withdraw troops from southern Lebanon.
Talks between Washington and Beirut have been underway for nearly six weeks, centered on a U.S. proposed roadmap whereby Hezbollah would disarm in exchange for Israel’s military pullback from five key locations across southern Lebanon. While Hezbollah has publicly refused full disarmament, sources say it is considering scaling back its arsenal privately, particularly if Israel first ceases strikes and withdraws troops.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri closely aligned with Hezbollah has publicly urged the U.S. to demand that Israel stop its military actions as a prerequisite for disarmament, calling for implementation of the ceasefire agreed last year. Israel rebuffed that proposal, prompting the U.S. to insist on prompt government-level action from Beirut.
Barrack, speaking after a meeting with Salam, emphasized that “as long as Hezbollah retains arms, words will not suffice. The government and Hizballah need to fully commit and act now in order to not consign the Lebanese people to the stumbling status quo”.
Lebanese leaders reportedly fear that failure to formalize Hezbollah’s disarmament could trigger escalated Israeli strikes even targeting Beirut, underscoring the urgency behind the U.S. ultimatum.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah faces mounting internal and international pressure as its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon was largely dismantled in recent months under the November 2024 ceasefire, and the group is reportedly weighing further reductions amid financial stress and diminished political support. Its leader Naim Qassem has repeatedly insisted that disarmament is off the table until Israel fully withdraws and halts airstrikes, decrying proposals for disarmament as tantamount to surrender.
