Trump on Lebanon: Have to get rid of Hezbollah

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated calls for Hezbollah's disarmament in Lebanon, framing it as essential to regional stability and Lebanon's sovereignty. His remarks contrast with Lebanon's approach, which prioritizes "containing" Hezbollah's arsenal rather than fully disarming the Iran-backed group. This divergence highlights ongoing tensions between U.S. policy objectives and Lebanese political realities.

The November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered with international oversight, mandated Hezbollah's disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory within 60 days. However, Hezbollah has not surrendered its weapons, instead rebuilding its capabilities. Lebanon's Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have made incremental progress, asserting control over southern territories and removing weapons from Palestinian refugee camps, but challenges persist. The U.S. has allocated $3 billion in security assistance to the LAF since 2004, including recent $240 million in military support, to bolster its capacity to enforce disarmament.

Lebanon's government, led by President Joseph Aoun, faces criticism for balancing domestic political interests with international commitments. While Aoun initially pledged to disarm non-state actors, he later shifted to a strategy of "freezing" Hezbollah's weapons, citing civil war risks. This approach draws parallels to Gaza's arrangement, where Hamas retained arms by rebranding fighters as security forces, though Lebanon's situation remains distinct due to Hezbollah's deeper integration into state institutions according to analysis.

The U.S. and allies emphasize tying reconstruction aid to Hezbollah's disarmament. The World Bank estimates Lebanon's postwar recovery will cost $11 billion, with phased assistance conditional on political reforms and credible elections. Meanwhile, regional actors like Qatar have pledged aid without explicit disarmament benchmarks, raising concerns about funding Hezbollah-linked entities.

As Lebanon navigates these pressures, the U.S. seeks to expand diplomatic engagement, including potential high-level visits and multilateral coordination, to reinforce its strategic priorities. The outcome will hinge on Lebanon's ability to reconcile its sovereignty claims with its obligations under Resolution 1701 and the evolving regional security landscape.