Lebanese response falls within desirable scope: US envoy Barrack
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US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack praised Lebanon's response to a US proposal on Hezbollah's disarmament after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun.
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Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, meets with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Monday, July 7, 2025 (AP)
The US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, expressed optimism for prosperity and peace in Lebanon after he received the Lebanese response to the US proposal regarding the exclusive possession of weapons.
Barrack’s two-day Beirut visit aims to secure Lebanon’s response to the June 19 US proposal, which demands the disarmament of all non-state actors, especially Hezbollah, in exchange for the Israeli withdrawal from remaining southern border posts, UN-mediated prisoner exchanges, and reconstruction assistance.
After meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, US envoy Tom Barak noted that "the Lebanese people now have a real opportunity as the region undergoes shifts and transformations," emphasizing that he was "largely satisfied by the Lebanese response," describing it as "within the scope" of what Washington is trying to achieve.
He stated that Lebanon does not have to adhere to a strict deadline as long as it works on final terms.
Barrack said, "We just had an incredibly productive and important meeting," adding that in the past, opportunities were not attainable; however, he claimed that "Israel" is seeking peace with Lebanon.
Regarding violations of the ceasefire, the US envoy stated that the US bears no responsibility for any part of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, noting that a designated team was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in coordination with the UNIFIL.
Upon being asked about whether the US will dissolve Hezbollah as a political party, Barrack replied by saying: "Do you think the US or France will come to dissolve Hezbollah, a political party in Lebanon? This is a purely Lebanese matter, and it’s up to the Lebanese people to address it."
Earlier on June 6, informed sources told Al Mayadeen that while Lebanon was in the process of finalizing its official response to a US proposal demanding the disarmament of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance, the country had not yet concluded its internal deliberations on the matter.
According to Al Mayadeen's source, the response will reflect a unified national stance shaped by ongoing consultations among top political leaders while reiterating, according to the sources, the principle of exclusive state control over arms in line with both the Lebanese Constitution and the 1989 Taif Agreement.
Lebanon will reaffirm its adherence to the current ceasefire agreement with "Israel" while stressing that the Israeli side has been the party consistently breaching the terms through ongoing attacks and the unlawful occupation of Lebanese lands. Beirut's response is expected to demand an end to Israeli aggression, comprehensive withdrawal from south Lebanon, and implementation of all ceasefire provisions.
