US ‘unbelievably satisfied’ with Lebanon reply to proposal on disarming Hezbollah
A U.S. envoy said on Monday he was “unbelievably satisfied” with Lebanon’s reply to a U.S. proposal on disarming Hezbollah, following meetings in Beirut held hours after the Zionist forces launched new air strikes and a cross-border incursion.
Envoy Thomas Barrack’s proposal, delivered to Lebanese officials during his last visit on June 19, would see Hezbollah fully disarmed within four months in exchange for “Israel” halting air strikes and withdrawing troops from posts in south Lebanon they still occupy following a war last year.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Lebanon’s president on Monday, Barrack said he had received a seven-page reply, although he gave no details of its contents.
“What the government gave us was something spectacular in a very short period of time,” Barrack said. “I’m unbelievably satisfied with the response.”
He said the US will not be dictating Lebanon’s actions regarding Hezbollah but rather will take a supportive stance.
“Hezbollah needs to see that there’s a future for them, that that road is not harnessed just solely against them, and that there’s an intersection of peace and prosperity for them also,” added Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Türkiye.
The US envoy also affirmed President Donald Trump’s commitment to contributing to Lebanon’s prosperity and called on Beirut to seize this opportunity.
It is noteworthy that despite a November ceasefire, the Zionist forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’s activities.
Since then, Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 “Israeli” violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 231 people and injuries to more than 500.
Under the ceasefire deal, “Israel” was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after the Zionist forces refused to comply, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts.
