18/08/2025

US Envoy Thomas Barrack: Disarming Hezbollah serves the Shia community, as well as all Lebanese

BEIRUT — On Monday, Lebanon welcomed US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack, accompanied by Morgan Ortagus, former US State Department spokesperson and newly reassigned member of Washington’s Middle East team. Their visit signaled Washington’s intent to curb Iranian influence in Lebanon and help reshape a security system still grappling with the aftermath of war, economic collapse, and deep political divisions.

Immediately upon arrival, the American delegation traveled to Baabda Palace to meet with President Joseph Aoun, a Syriac Maronite, who emphasized firmness without provocation. He described the US proposal as a “roadmap” for Lebanon’s future, stressing that “what is now required is the commitment of other parties to the contents of the joint declaration, additional support for the Lebanese Army, and the acceleration of international efforts to launch reconstruction in areas targeted by Israeli attacks.”



After congratulating Aoun on his government’s recent steps, Barrack addressed reporters with cautious optimism. “What has happened regarding the cabinet, ministers, and personnel is an attempt to return to a place where prosperity and peace are within reach,” he said. “In the coming weeks, we expect progress in many areas — progress that will improve life for the Lebanese people and their neighbors, while laying the foundation for a new type of regional dialogue.”

On the sensitive issue of Hezbollah’s arsenal, Barrack stressed, “The goal is to benefit the Shia community, not act against them. The Shia are Lebanese, and this is a Lebanese decision that requires cooperation from Israel.”

He added that while the Lebanese government has taken its first steps, Israel must also respond. The next phase, he noted, would involve negotiations among Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, the Lebanese government, and the Lebanese Army — part of a plan to transform Lebanon into the “shining pearl of the region.”

Despite official reassurances, fears of violence remain. Historically, the Lebanese Army, though widely respected, has avoided direct confrontation with Hezbollah. It is now being asked to seize the group’s weapons — a force numbering in the tens of thousands — potentially placing soldiers in unfamiliar and dangerous territory.

Lebanon’s bold decision to move toward dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal is viewed as a high-stakes gamble: a bid for national sovereignty that could redefine the country’s trajectory for decades. Whether this initiative can withstand the political and security challenges ahead remains uncertain.