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U.S. envoy: Hezbollah would need Lebanese government mandate, collection plan and funding to disarm
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Summary
Ambassador Barak said disarming Hezbollah would require authorization by Lebanon’s council of ministers, cooperation from Hezbollah’s political leadership, payment and capability for the Lebanese Armed Forces to collect weapons, and a funded redevelopment plan.
Ambassador Thomas Barak said the process of disarming Hezbollah would begin with Lebanese authorities and require multiple coordinated steps — a political mandate from Lebanon’s council of ministers, agreement by Hezbollah’s political leaders, a plan for secure collection of heavy weapons and outside funding to rebuild affected areas.
“The process of Hezbollah putting their arms down starts with the Lebanese government process. They have to, and the council of ministers have to, authorize that mandate and that act, and Hezbollah itself, the political party, has to agree to them,” Barak told reporters.
Barak said the Lebanese Armed Forces would need resources and a mandate to collect stored weapons without prompting renewed civil conflict. He noted past constraints on Lebanon’s security services and money shortages for the military, saying those limits must be addressed for any disarmament plan to succeed.
On incentives, Barak described a package of reconstruction funding and development “carrots” for southern Lebanon to accompany security arrangements, and he said Gulf states — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — were prepared to help finance restoration if stability could be achieved. He cited the need for local economic projects, electricity and water restoration as components of a plan B to reduce the Shia community’s dependence on armed groups.
Barak also described a mediation mechanism that involves the Lebanese Armed Forces, a U.N. operation (UNIFIL) and a separate “mechanism” used to manage incidents along the Israel‑Lebanon line without triggering broader hostilities. He said returning heavy weapons stored in homes and garages will require careful sequencing so civilian collection does not set off new violence.
Why it matters: Barak emphasized that disarmament is not a unilateral U.S. decision and that Lebanese institutions, agreement by Hezbollah’s political wing and external funding all must align. “You need the military to be able to go collect them. The problem is we haven’t had any money to pay the military,” he said.
Ending: Barak said the administration’s initiative offers a “path” but warned the window of international patience is limited, and that Lebanon must “get out of their own way” to seize external assistance.
