U.S. Applauds Lebanon’s Hezbollah Disarmament Response, Eyes Abraham Accords Expansion

The United States is heralding Lebanon’s swift response to a bold proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group, in exchange for Israeli troops pulling back from Lebanon’s southern border. U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack, speaking after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, called Beirut’s reply to the June 19 plan "spectacular." The proposal demands Hezbollah’s complete disarmament within four months, a critical step toward de-escalating tensions in the region.

A fragile truce has held in Lebanon since a devastating September pager bombing targeted Hezbollah operatives, forcing the group to retreat from the south and reportedly surrender some weapons. Yet, whispers from the ground suggest Hezbollah may resist giving up all its arms, and Israeli forces remain stationed in southern Lebanon, citing ongoing threats to northern Israeli communities. Skirmishes persist, underscoring the delicate balance of this moment.

Barrack, who juggles roles as ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, sees a shared desire for peace between Lebanon and Israel. "Both nations want a stand-down, a cessation of hostilities, and a path to stability," he told reporters. He even floated the tantalizing possibility of Lebanon joining the Abraham Accords, the Trump-era framework for normalizing ties with Israel—a diplomatic moonshot that could reshape the Middle East.

Meanwhile, regional dynamics are shifting fast. Syria has reportedly opened a dialogue with Israel, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recently expressed enthusiasm for expanding the Accords to include neighbors like Lebanon and Syria. But such ambitions hinge on Israel wrapping up its ongoing conflict in Gaza, a tall order given the multi-front challenges it faced last fall, from Hamas to Iran and Yemen’s Houthis.

The road to peace is fraught, but Barrack warned that standing still isn’t an option. "The region is moving at Mach speed," he said. "Stay stagnant, and you’ll be left behind."