BEIRUT/WASHINGTON — August 1, 2025 — The Trump administration is intensifying diplomatic efforts to force Lebanon’s government to commit to the disarmament of Hezbollah, making it a central condition for any ceasefire agreement to halt Israeli military action in the region.
According to Lebanese and diplomatic sources, American negotiators have presented a four-month roadmap under which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from southern Lebanon and cease airstrikes—if Hezbollah agrees to fully disarm. The proposal represents the most direct U.S. demand to date aimed at neutralizing the Iranian-backed militant group.
Unsurprisingly, Hezbollah rejected the initiative outright.
“We are a people who do not surrender,” said Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem in a fiery televised speech. “Anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project.”
Hezbollah Under Growing Pressure at Home and Abroad
Following last year’s war with Israel—which cost Hezbollah senior commanders, thousands of fighters, and massive displacement in its support base—the militant group faces mounting domestic and international scrutiny. While Qassem has publicly pledged to resist disarmament, sources say Hezbollah has internally considered scaling back parts of its missile and drone arsenal due to vulnerabilities exposed during Israeli operations in 2024.
In a significant shift, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has taken a clear stand in support of state authority over armed groups.
“Lebanon is committed to asserting state authority across all its territory, to removing all weapons from armed groups—including Hezbollah—and to transferring these arms to the Lebanese army,” Aoun said during Army Day commemorations.
Aoun is scheduled to address the nation Friday, ahead of a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that is expected to formally debate Hezbollah’s disarmament and the U.S. proposal.
U.S. Envoy and Gulf States Push for Unified Response
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s key intermediary in Lebanon, has been leading behind-the-scenes negotiations with Lebanese officials.
“The credibility of Lebanon’s government rests on its ability to match principle with practice,” Barrack wrote on X. “As long as Hezbollah retains arms, words will not suffice.”
Barrack reportedly told Lebanese leaders that he will not return to Beirut without a formal commitment to Hezbollah’s disarmament. The U.S., along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, is offering a massive aid and reconstruction package for Lebanon—conditional on the removal of Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
“Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and now the UAE are coming in and saying, ‘If we can get to where everybody can just calm down, we will help redevelop that portion of Lebanon,’” Barrack noted in a private briefing.
Financial Clampdown and Regional Coordination
Lebanon’s banking system has also begun cracking down. The Banque Du Liban recently banned all transactions with Al-Qard al-Hasan, Hezbollah’s shadow financial institution. The move aligns with broader efforts to dismantle the group’s financial lifelines, particularly as Kuwait and other Gulf nations impose their own sanctions on Hezbollah.
This financial isolation comes amid revelations of severe breaches in Hezbollah’s internal security. Following Israeli infiltration of its supply lines and communications networks, the group suffered devastating pager-triggered attacks on September 17–18, which injured thousands of fighters and exposed further vulnerabilities in its operational command.
Still, Qassem remains defiant:
“We will not submit to Israel,” he said, accusing the U.S. of “intimidation” and serving as a proxy for Israeli interests.
Aoun’s Vision for a Sovereign Lebanon
Despite Hezbollah’s threats, President Aoun urged unity among Lebanon’s political factions:
“Now is the time to seize the opportunity. Disarmament is not surrender—it is sovereignty.”
Aoun has proposed a $1 billion annual military strengthening plan over the next decade to rebuild Lebanon’s army and security services, contingent upon the full transfer of arms from militias to the state.
With the U.S., Gulf allies, and Lebanese government aligned, Hezbollah now faces unprecedented diplomatic, economic, and military pressure. Whether the group can endure this isolation without provoking a wider regional conflict remains a looming question.
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