US pressures Lebanon for cabinet decision on Hezbollah disarmament

According to a Reuters report based on five different sources, the US is increasing its pressure on Beirut to issue a Council of Ministers decision on the disarmament of Hezbollah to restart negotiations aimed at halting Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

Two Lebanese officials, two diplomats, and a source with knowledge of the matter stated that if Lebanese ministers do not make a public commitment to disarm Hezbollah, the US will stop sending its special representative, Thomas Barrack, to Beirut and will not pressure Israel to halt its air strikes or withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon.

For approximately six weeks, Washington and Beirut have been negotiating a roadmap that includes a complete disarmament of Hezbollah in exchange for Israel halting its attacks and withdrawing from five locations in southern Lebanon.

The initial proposal required the Lebanese government to pass a resolution in the Council of Ministers for the disarmament of Hezbollah.

According to the report, although Hezbollah has publicly refused to surrender all its weapons, it has considered the option of reducing its weapons capacity in private talks.

Hezbollah has informed Lebanese officials that before it disarms, Israel must take the first step by withdrawing its troops and stopping its attacks with armed drones.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, has requested that the US ensure Israel immediately ceases its attacks to fully implement the ceasefire reached between the parties last year. Four sources indicated that Israel rejected this demand last week.

Following this development, the US reportedly began demanding that the Lebanese government hold a vote in the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.

One of the sources said: “The US is now saying, ‘There is no more Barrack, no more diplomatic correspondence.’ The Council of Ministers must make a decision, and only then will we continue to talk. They cannot wait any longer.”

The same source and Lebanese officials reported that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam plans to convene a Council of Ministers meeting in the coming days. Barrack, who met with Salam in Beirut last week, said that Washington cannot “make” Israel do anything.

After the meeting, Barrack posted on X, stating: “As long as Hezbollah remains armed, words alone will not suffice. The government and Hezbollah must now make a full commitment and take action, or the Lebanese people will be condemned to instability.”

All sources said that Lebanese leaders are concerned that failing to make a clear commitment to disarming Hezbollah could lead Israel to escalate its attacks, potentially even targeting Beirut.