US envoy to discuss long-term ceasefire with Israel after Lebanon
commits to disarming Hezbollah
[August 18, 2025]
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB
BEIRUT (AP)
— The U.S. special envoy to Lebanon said Monday that his team would
discuss the long-term cessation of hostilities with Israel, after Beirut
endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for the Hezbollah militant group to disarm.
Tom Barrack, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun,
also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war
reconstruction in the country, after months of shuttle diplomacy between
the U.S. and Lebanon. |
U.S. deputy special presidential envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus,
attends the presser of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to
Syria Tom Barrack, after their meeting with Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun at the presidential palace, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon,
Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) |
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Barrack is also set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and
Speaker Nabih Berri, who often negotiates on behalf of Hezbollah
with Washington.
“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve
taken the first step,” said Barrack, who is also the U.S.
ambassador to Turkey. “Now what we need is for Israel to comply
with that equal handshake.”
Lebanon’s decision last week to support a plan to disarm
Hezbollah angered the Iran-backed group and its allies, who
believe Israel's military should first withdraw from the five
hilltops it has occupied in southern Lebanon since the end of
its 14-month war with Hezbollah last November and stop launching
almost daily airstrikes in the country.
Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, has vowed to fight
efforts to disarm the group, sowing fears of civil unrest in the
country.
Barrack warned Hezbollah that it will have “missed an
opportunity” if it doesn't back the calls for it to disarm.
Aoun and Salam both want to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state
armed groups, and have demanded Israel halt its attacks and
withdraw from the country.
Aoun said he wants to increase funding for Lebanon's
cash-strapped military to bolster its capacity. He also wants to
raise money from international donors to help rebuild the
country.
The World Bank estimates that Hezbollah and Israel’s monthslong
war in late 2024 cost $11.1 billion in damages and economic
losses as larges swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon were
battered. The country has also faced a crippling economic crisis
since 2019.
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