Senior U.S. diplomatic sources have issued a dire warning that Lebanon has “lost the opportunity to reach a solution,” as Israeli and Arab intelligence reports confirm that Hezbollah is actively rearming in defiance of last year’s ceasefire agreement. The developments suggest the region is tilting toward a “worst-case scenario” as international patience with the Lebanese state wears thin.
According to a Wall Street Journal report citing intelligence officials, Hezbollah is restocking its arsenal with rockets, anti-tank missiles, and artillery. The weapons are allegedly entering Lebanon via seaports and smuggling routes through Syria, with the group also ramping up its own domestic production. This rearmament is a direct violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which mandated the disarmament of Hezbollah and the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon.
This military buildup has been met with frustration in Washington. In a blunt assessment provided to Sky News Arabic on October 31, 2025, senior U.S. diplomatic sources declared that diplomatic efforts have “hit a brick wall.”
“The insistence of Lebanese parties on maintaining the status quo means that Lebanon will remain a failed state,” the sources said.
The U.S. officials stated that incentives to rescue Lebanon from its economic and political collapse have failed, leading Washington to a grim conclusion: “The US hopes, deep down, for the best for Lebanon—but is preparing for the worst.”
The U.S. criticism was aimed directly at the Lebanese government’s inability or unwillingness to confront the Iran-backed group. The sources told Sky News Arabic that “Lebanon has become the only country in the region that sponsors a foreign terrorist organization as a fundamental part of its leadership.”
This volatile situation comes as Israel’s patience reportedly wears thin. Israeli officials have indicated that Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its military infrastructure are seen as a direct provocation, fueling discussions in Tel Aviv about a potential military response to prevent the group from regrouping on its northern border.
