US envoy: Lebanon to present plan to convince Hezbollah to disarm by August 31

On August 26, US Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon Thomas Barrack said that Lebanon will unveil a plan on August 31 aimed at persuading Hezbollah to lay down its weapons.

Speaking after talks with the Lebanese president in Beirut, Barrack noted that Israel is expected to issue a counterproposal once Lebanon’s plan is presented, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He stressed that the initiative would not necessarily involve force. “The Lebanese army and the government are not talking about going to war. They are talking about how to convince Hezbollah to give up those arms,” Barrack said.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions following warnings from Hezbollah.

Last week, the group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, cautioned the government against taking a confrontational approach, declaring there would be “no life” in Lebanon if it did.

Hezbollah has been significantly weakened since last year’s war with Israel, which killed many of its commanders and fighters.

The US-brokered ceasefire that ended that conflict requires Beirut to disarm all militias operating in the country.

Qassem said Hezbollah and its ally Amal had delayed anti-government demonstrations against the US-backed disarmament drive, giving space for dialogue, but warned that future rallies could target the US Embassy in Beirut.

By Aghakazim Guliyev