🇺🇸 In a major policy warning, U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack stated that Lebanon risks total destabilization unless it acts decisively to disarm Hezbollah. Speaking to The National, Barrack emphasized that regional powers are encroaching and that Beirut must regain control or face becoming “Bilad Al Sham” again — a historical term reflecting Syrian dominance over Lebanon.

Barrack confirmed the U.S., alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is ready to assist Lebanon financially and militarily, but only if Beirut takes the lead. The proposed U.S. plan links military aid and reconstruction funding to Hezbollah’s full disarmament and comprehensive economic reforms. So far, Lebanon responded with a seven-page counter-proposal that reaffirmed state control over weapons and promised disarmament only in the south — falling short of Washington’s demand for a nationwide disarmament.

While describing the Lebanese response as “very responsive,” Barrack stressed urgency. “Hezbollah’s firepower, coupled with a hollowed-out Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), makes the situation unsustainable,” he said. The LAF, operating on a severely limited budget, is unable to enforce disarmament alone, pushing UN peacekeepers to fill critical gaps.

The envoy also hinted at a possible monitored disarmament mechanism involving the U.S., France, Israel, and the LAF. However, he acknowledged the high risk of civil war and noted that even Hezbollah views itself as Lebanon’s only defense force amid Israeli airstrikes and unresolved border disputes.

Funding remains a sticking point. Gulf nations are wary of pouring money into a system plagued by corruption, demanding safeguards before backing LAF operations.

Barrack concluded by calling for a unified international effort to strengthen the LAF and resolve Lebanon’s growing security crisis.