The Trump administration’s special envoy to Lebanon, Thomas Barrack, praised Beirut’s response to a U.S. proposal calling for the Hezbollah disarmament in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Barrack called Lebanon’s reply “spectacular,” adding, “I’m unbelievably satisfied with the response.”
The June 19 proposal laid out a four-month timeline to fully disarm the Iran-backed terrorist organization, which has long destabilized the region. While Hezbollah has reportedly begun retreating from parts of southern Lebanon and relinquishing some arms, doubts remain. Reuters reports Hezbollah may still resist giving up all its weapons, keeping the threat to Israeli communities near the northern border alive.
Barrack emphasized shared goals between Israel and Lebanon: “The Israelis do not want war with Lebanon. Both countries are trying to give the same thing – the notion of a stand-down agreement, of the cessation of hostilities, and a road to peace.”
He also hinted at a broader strategic goal: bringing Lebanon and even Syria into the Abraham Accords, a flagship peace initiative launched under President Donald Trump. “The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel, just as the dialogue needs to be reinvented by Lebanon,” Barrack noted.
As Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “We have an interest in adding countries, such as Syria and Lebanon… to the circle of peace and normalization.”
If successful, Hezbollah disarmament could mark a major step toward regional stability and a legacy-defining moment for President Trump’s Middle East policy.
