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The U.S. envoy to Syria expressed satisfaction Monday with Lebanon's response to an American proposal for disarming Hezbollah, following high-level talks in Beirut aimed at addressing regional security concerns.
Tom Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Türkiye, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss the disarmament roadmap he had previously submitted to Lebanese officials.
"We had a very satisfactory meeting and appreciate Lebanon's balanced response," Barrack said after the meeting, according to Lebanon's official news agency NNA. He emphasized that the United States would not dictate Lebanon's actions regarding Hezbollah but would instead take a supportive stance.
The meeting, also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson, was part of what NNA described as "ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing key political and security concerns in the region."
Barrack had first presented the roadmap to senior Lebanese officials during a June 19 visit to Beirut. The proposal calls for Hezbollah to surrender all its weapons by the end of this year in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from five points it occupies in southern Lebanon and the release of funds allocated for reconstruction of areas devastated by the recent Israeli war.
However, Hezbollah has firmly rejected surrendering its weapons before what it terms the "end of the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon.
The diplomatic push comes amid ongoing tensions following the escalation of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah into a full-scale war in September 2024. While a November cease-fire was agreed upon, Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities.
Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce since the ceasefire took effect, including incidents that have resulted in at least 231 deaths and more than 500 injuries.
Under the cease-fire agreement, Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26. However, the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply with the original timeline. Israel continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.
The diplomatic initiative represents a significant test for the fragile cease-fire arrangements and broader efforts to stabilize the volatile border region between Israel and Lebanon.
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