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U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Representative for Syria Tom Barrack met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday to discuss "Lebanese and regional issues," continuing Washington's diplomatic push for weapons consolidation under state control.
The meeting, held at the Parliamentary Speaker's building in Beirut's Ayn al-Tineh district, lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson also participated in the discussions.
During the session, Barrack and Berri reportedly evaluated political developments in Lebanon and the regional security situation, though no official statement was released following the talks.
"The meeting with the Parliament Speaker went very well. We are working for stability, and you should be hopeful," Barrack told journalists when questioned after the meeting.
The closed-door discussions are believed to have included the U.S. proposal regarding the consolidation of weapons under state control, though specific details were not disclosed.
The meeting is the latest of high-level diplomatic engagements by Barrack, who met with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Monday.
Following his meeting with Aoun, Barrack emphasized that Hezbollah's disarmament was entirely Lebanon's internal matter while reiterating Washington's classification of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
The diplomatic outreach follows Barrack's June 19 presentation to Beirut authorities of a U.S. proposal establishing "the collection of all weapons in the country under state control only" as a priority objective.
In a June 27 interview with Al Arabiya television, Barrack outlined specific expectations for the armed group. "Hezbollah's military wing must be completely eliminated. Not the political part, but the military structure is unacceptable. A timetable for disarmament should be set, for example, withdrawal north of the Litani River," he stated.
The initiative faces resistance from Hezbollah leadership. Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared during an Ashura ceremony on July 6 that the organization would not respond to calls for weapon surrender until Israeli attacks on Lebanon cease.
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