US Demands Hezbollah Disarmament For Talks With Lebanon

Reuters, citing multiple sources, reported that the United States is pressuring Lebanon to issue a cabinet resolution pledging Hezbollah's full disarmament, a condition for progress in talks to halt Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

American officials have warned that without this resolution, Washington will suspend envoy Tom Barrack's visits to Beirut and stop pressing Israel to scale back its operations or withdraw troops from key areas.

The U.S. proposal envisions a roadmap,Hezbollah would gradually disarm in exchange for an Israeli ceasefire and troop pullback. But Lebanon's cabinet has yet to adopt the resolution, stalling negotiations.

Hezbollah, labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Western allies, has publicly rejected full disarmament but quietly signaled willingness to reduce some weapons if Israel halts its attacks first.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged Washington to pressure Israel to stop strikes before demanding concessions, but sources say Tel Aviv rejected that request, deepening the diplomatic deadlock.

Tensions escalated further when a Lebanese military court convicted six Hezbollah members for killing an Irish UN peacekeeper in 2022, sentencing one to death in absentia and others to prison or fines.

The stalled talks and fresh court rulings underscore fears in Beirut that failing to meet U.S. conditions could provoke wider Israeli attacks - even reaching the Lebanese capital.

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