A U.S. source told Al-Hadath that Washington is increasingly dissatisfied with Lebanon’s handling of Hezbollah, and that the U.S. administration plans to convey its concerns directly to the Lebanese Army commander.
According to the source, American officials believe that Lebanon’s recent request to open negotiations with Israel is not currently a viable path toward resolving the conflict. Instead, Washington reportedly views concrete steps to limit Hezbollah’s influence as the immediate priority.
U.S. officials are said to have growing doubts about the Lebanese authorities’ willingness to confront Hezbollah, particularly in southern Lebanon. Intelligence assessments cited by the source suggest that Hezbollah’s presence south of the Litani River remains largely intact and may even be stronger than before.
The same source claimed that some American officials believe there may be direct coordination between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah in the south, a concern that has reportedly increased tensions between Washington and Lebanese leadership.
As a result, the U.S. administration is expected to press Lebanon to take serious action against Hezbollah before any political negotiations with Israel can be considered.
The source also suggested that some U.S. officials believe the Lebanese Army leadership lacks the willingness to confront Hezbollah militarily, reinforcing Washington’s skepticism toward diplomatic proposals currently coming from Beirut.
