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### Tensions Escalate Between Hezbollah and Israel Amid U.S. Disarmament Proposal
Hezbollah has firmly rejected any notion of disarmament as Israel continues its military actions against Lebanon. This situation arises following a U.S. call for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons within four months.
During a recent visit to Beirut, Thomas Barrack, a senior aide to former U.S. President Donald Trump, commended the Lebanese government’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah amidst ongoing Israeli military engagement in the country. Barrack, who serves as the U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and a special envoy for Syria, returned to Lebanon on Monday after delivering the proposal initially presented during his June 19 visit.
The U.S. plan stipulates that Hezbollah must disarm within four months in return for a cessation of Israeli airstrikes and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from their remaining positions in southern Lebanon. “The government’s response was impressive and delivered in a short timeframe,” Barrack stated after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. While he indicated that he received a detailed seven-page response from the Lebanese officials, he refrained from disclosing specifics.
Barrack expressed optimism, believing that both Lebanon and Israel share a mutual interest in de-escalation. “Both countries are aspiring for a stand-down agreement, aiming for a cessation of hostilities and paving the way for peace,” he noted. However, the atmosphere remains tense, with Israel persisting in its attacks despite a ceasefire agreement established in November.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in October 2023 when Hezbollah launched attacks in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. By September 2024, the situation had escalated into a full-scale conflict, resulting in over 4,000 fatalities, including Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, and displacing nearly 1.4 million people according to Lebanese governmental reports.
Recently installed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister have pledged to reinforce the country’s institutions, asserting that Hezbollah must not eclipse the government’s authority. Despite this stance, Israel’s operations continue, justified as efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rearming. Since the ceasefire, Lebanese health authorities report around 250 deaths and over 600 injuries resulting from Israeli strikes.
Although Hezbollah has not formally responded to the U.S. proposal, its leader Naim Qassem asserted that disarmament is off the table while Israeli aggression persists. “We cannot be expected to lay down our arms as long as hostilities continue,” Qassem told supporters during Ashura observances in southern Beirut.
Barrack acknowledged that any potential disarmament would require assurances that Hezbollah could maintain its role as a political entity within Lebanon. However, signs of de-escalation remain elusive, with Israel launching a series of airstrikes and a ground incursion into southern and eastern Lebanon just hours before Barrack’s arrival.
Lebanese officials indicated that Israeli military actions seem aimed at exerting pressure on Hezbollah ahead of diplomatic efforts. Over recent days, strikes from Israeli drones have reportedly resulted in casualties, including an attack in the Bint Jbeil region that killed one and wounded others.
The current scenario reflects the complexities of the Lebanese-Israeli relationship as diplomatic discussions unfold, with both sides grappling with the dire need for stability in the region.
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