U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus has called for the immediate disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon, urging the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to take swift action. Speaking to Lebanese broadcaster LBCI at the end of a three-day visit to Beirut, Ortagus emphasized the importance of upholding the ceasefire agreement with Israel and ensuring national security through state control.
Her visit comes amid escalating Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions and weapons depots, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs, following cross-border rocket attacks from Lebanon. Hezbollah denies involvement in the rocket fire, but tensions have tested the fragile truce that ended a year-long conflict.
During her meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Ortagus stressed that armed groups like Hezbollah pose a direct threat to peace and regional stability. "It’s clear that Hezbollah must be disarmed," she said, adding that Israel won’t tolerate attacks on its territory.
While she didn’t provide a specific timeline, Ortagus asserted that disarmament should happen “as soon as possible” to restore full sovereignty and peace in Lebanon. "The sooner the LAF can meet these goals, the sooner the Lebanese people can be free," she added.
The 2024 ceasefire agreement mandates the dismantling of armed factions and unauthorized weapons, starting in southern Lebanon. Since then, the LAF has reportedly destroyed hundreds of weapons caches in the region.
Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected disarmament efforts, arguing the truce only applies to the south and accusing Israel of violating the deal by maintaining positions in Lebanese territory and conducting airstrikes.
Ortagus reaffirmed U.S. support for Lebanon’s military and political institutions in enforcing the ceasefire and disbanding all militias nationwide.