US congressional delegation presses Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament
US congressional staff from both parties met Lebanon's political and military leadership in Beirut last week, seeking a first-hand assessment of the country's security challenges as Washington presses for progress on Hezbollah's disarmament . The delegation, organised by the American Task Force on Lebanon , included Republican and Democratic staff from both chambers of Congress, including aides…
A bipartisan delegation of US congressional staff visited Lebanon last week to gain a firsthand assessment of the nation's security challenges, particularly as Washington pushes for progress on disarming Hezbollah. The delegation, organized by the American Task Force on Lebanon, comprised members from both the House and Senate foreign affairs and foreign relations committees.
During the week-long trip, the delegation met with key Lebanese figures including US Ambassador Michel Issa, US military and diplomatic leadership, and several Lebanese ministers and members of parliament. They also consulted with army commander General Rodolphe Haykal and Hezbollah's central bank governor Karim Souaid.
The purpose of the visit was to allow congressional staff to better understand Lebanon's security issues while helping Lebanese officials comprehend Washington's stance in the US-backed framework. This agreement, signed in June, aims for Hezbollah's disarmament and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, with Lebanese army troops moving into designated 'pilot zones' to take over.
Lebanon has expressed frustration with Israel's withdrawal pace, accusing it of delaying further retreats before the October elections. Israel, however, insists that Hezbollah's disarmament must be verified beforehand. Iran-backed Hezbollah has opposed Beirut's talks with Israel, refusing to discuss giving up its weapons until Israeli forces withdraw.
The US announced plans to sponsor a new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome early September. The delegation's discussions covered verification, disarmament, and reconstruction processes under the framework agreement, as well as Lebanon's progress and challenges in economic and governance reforms. The visit also included a tour of a shelter for displaced Lebanese, highlighting the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
The delegation's trip came amid recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which killed at least 11 people according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. This marked one of the deadliest Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the June truce.
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