2025-07-29T21:00:08+00:00

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Shafaq News – Washington/Beirut

The United States is increasing
pressure on Lebanon to issue a formal cabinet decision committing to the
disarmament of Hezbollah, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing five informed
sources.

According to the report, two
Lebanese officials, two diplomats, and one additional Lebanese source confirmed
that unless Lebanese ministers publicly commit to such a decision, Washington
will withhold its envoy, Tom Barrack, from visiting Beirut to engage in talks
with Lebanese officials. Additionally, “the US will refrain from pressuring
Israel to halt its airstrikes or withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon,”
the report revealed.

Talks between Washington and
Beirut have been ongoing for nearly six weeks over a proposed US roadmap, which
would see Hezbollah fully disarmed in exchange for Israel ending its aerial
bombardments and withdrawing from five positions in southern Lebanon. A key
element of the proposal is a ministerial resolution by the Lebanese government
pledging Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The sources told Reuters that
Hezbollah informed Lebanese officials it expects Israel to take the first step
by withdrawing its forces and ceasing drone strikes on the group’s fighters and
weapons depots.

Four of the sources noted that
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally, has asked the
United States to secure an Israeli halt to strikes as a preliminary step toward
implementing a broader ceasefire agreement. That truce, reached last year,
ended months of clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. However, the
sources added, Israel rejected Berri’s proposal just days ago.