United States envoy Tom Barrack called on the Lebanese government on Tuesday to make a clear decision on how to implement disarmament, warning that time is running out to avoid military escalation.
In an interview with Al Jadeed TV, Barrack said, “President Donald Trump wants to help Lebanon in these difficult times,” noting that “there is a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, but both sides are struggling to implement it. We are here to help bring peace, but there is a timeline, and we are under pressure to reach an agreement.”
Barrack stressed that disarmament is a Lebanese matter: “I’m not asking for disarmament – the law already states there is only one military institution in Lebanon. Lebanon must decide how to enforce that law.” He added, “Light and heavy weapons must be removed, but this is not the responsibility of the United States.”
When asked about the absence of guarantees from Israel to uphold a ceasefire, he replied, “I’m not a negotiator. I’m a political mediator working to promote a positive outcome between the parties. Time is running out, and regional conditions demand stability.”
Sources cited by Al Hadath in Beirut said that Barrack’s visit yielded no new outcomes, mirroring the results of his previous trip. Lebanon reportedly asked the US to meet one of its demands to use as leverage in negotiations with Hezbollah.
The same sources warned that Hezbollah is attempting to shift responsibility onto the state to distance itself from potential consequences, while Israel has refused to make any concessions.
They concluded that Barrack “offered nothing new and took nothing back,” adding that Lebanon appears to be headed toward a new phase of military confrontation.
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