US Backs Lebanon Army to Disarm Hezbollah Amid Israeli Strikes

The United States has offered to support Lebanon’s army in implementing a stalled plan to disarm Hezbollah and other militant groups, according to sources who revealed the proposal came during meetings with President Joseph Aoun. The offer coincides with continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, creating a volatile pressure cooker where Washington’s backing may force Beirut to confront the Iran-backed group.
The plan, originally announced in August 2025 under intense U.S. and Saudi pressure, tasks the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with demilitarizing Hezbollah and other groups in four phases—starting south of the Litani River, then expanding northward to the Beqaa Valley. Washington approved a $230 million support package specifically for disarmament efforts, while the State Department pledged “full support” for Lebanon’s “courageous and historic decision” to remove Hezbollah’s estimated 40,000 fighters and 15,000-20,000 rockets from civilian control.
However, Lebanon is refusing to move forward unless Israel halts its near-daily air strikes. Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar demanded Israel withdraw from five strategic military positions it occupies on Lebanese territory, stating “it is the state’s duty to extend its control over all Lebanese territory”. President Aoun has instructed the army to “resist any Israeli incursion,” creating tension with U.S. envoys who want the LAF focused on Hezbollah, not confronting Israel.
Hezbollah has responded with defiance. Deputy leader Naim Qassem threatened “civil war” and paraded armed members through Beirut to showcase strength. The group rejects disarmament while Israeli strikes continue, framing itself as Lebanon’s defense against Israeli aggression. This stance complicates the LAF’s position—tasked with disarming a group more powerful than Lebanon’s conventional military.
Israel isn’t bluffing. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned “maximum enforcement will continue and even escalate” until Hezbollah is completely dismantled. Israeli jets have flown over Beirut’s presidential palace, and the IDF continues striking southern towns, claiming to target weapons caches embedded in civilian areas.
The U.S. finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope. Special Envoy Tom Barrack admitted Lebanon is “a failed state” where forcible disarmament could trigger civil war, yet warned the U.S. would support Israel if it becomes “more aggressive”. This contradictory position reflects Washington’s desire to weaken Iran’s proxy without destabilizing Lebanon completely.
The LAF currently clears weapons south of the Litani but insists it’s running out of explosives for destroying seized caches. The army is supposed to submit monthly progress reports, though congressional critics question whether $150 million in annual U.S. military aid—mostly non-lethal equipment—can build capacity to confront Hezbollah.
As the year-end deadline approaches, the situation is a powder keg: U.S. pressure for disarmament, Israeli strikes demanding compliance, Hezbollah threatening civil war, and Lebanon’s government paralyzed. The offer of support may be Washington’s last diplomatic card before conceding that military force—whether Israeli or American—is the only option left.