U.S. Envoy Barrack Affirms Lebanon’s Sovereignty Over Disarmament Issue

Top U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack said on Monday that disarmament is a “sovereign decision” for the Lebanese state, following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

“We seek a better future for Lebanon and its neighbours. The issue of disarmament is a sovereign decision for the Lebanese state,” Barrack said, adding that the Zionist entity should comply with a plan under which Hezbollah would be disarmed by the end of the year in exchange for a halt to Zionist forces’ operations in Lebanon.

“There’s always a step-by-step approach, but I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step,” Barrack told reporters, calling on the Zionist entity “to comply with that equal handshake.”

Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Türkiye, arrived in Beirut on Sunday evening for his fourth visit since June.