
US Envoy: Hezbollah's disarmament is a Lebanese decision
US Special Envoy Tom Barrack said Monday that Washington cannot guarantee Israeli restraint, reaffirming that the question of Hezbollah's weapons must be resolved solely by the Lebanese themselves.
Speaking at the Grand Serail during his second visit to Beirut in two weeks, Barrack emphasized Washington's support for Lebanon's stability, while acknowledging the limits of US influence. 'We have no guarantees, and we cannot force Israel to do anything,' he said in response to questions about Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon.
Although the United States continues to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, Barrack stressed that disarmament is 'a purely Lebanese matter.'
Barrack also expressed support for the Lebanese government's reform agenda, confirming that sanctions on local officials are not currently under consideration. 'Our focus remains on supporting the reform path,' he said, describing recent steps taken by the government as 'significant.'
The envoy met with President Joseph Aoun, who presented a formal memorandum outlining Lebanon's commitments since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire — including pledges in the presidential oath and the cabinet's policy statement — aimed at reactivating the political process and reinforcing stability.
الرئيس عون استقبل الموفد الأميركي توماس باراك، وسلّمه باسم الدولة اللبنانية، مشروع المذكرة الشاملة لتطبيق ما تعهّد به لبنان، منذ إعلان 27 تشرين الثاني 2024، حتى البيان الوزاري للحكومة اللبنانية، مروراً خصوصاً بخطاب القسم لرئيس الجمهورية
— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) July 21, 2025
During a prior visit, Barrack — who also serves as the US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkiye — expressed satisfaction with Beirut's initial response to a US plan addressing Hezbollah's disarmament. However, he stressed that Lebanon must not be sidelined amid sweeping regional changes.
Barrack's latest trip comes as Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned of an 'existential threat' to Lebanon and firmly rejected any handover of weapons to Israel. 'Disarming Hezbollah is an Israeli demand. We will never surrender, and Israel will not take our weapons,' he stated.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Security fears prompt Iran's GPS cut
Shafaq News – Tehran GPS services were disrupted in parts of Iran due to security concerns, the country's Minister of Communications, Issa Zarepour, confirmed on Wednesday, citing the threat of Israeli cyber and intelligence activity. Speaking to local media, Zarepour explained that the move was taken "in response to threats," underlining that it was authorized by 'relevant authorities' to protect public safety. 'The decision was made to prevent the misuse of location data by Israel,' he clarified. The minister added that efforts are underway to mitigate the impact on daily life. 'In cooperation with domestic knowledge-based companies, we are working on solutions to manage this situation and reduce the inconvenience to citizens, especially drivers,' Zarepour said, noting that testing and implementation of these solutions had already begun. The GPS restrictions follow broader digital and security measures adopted by Iranian authorities. In June, the government tightened i nternet access across the country, citing fears of Israeli exploitation of communication networks for military purposes. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated at the time that these controls were necessary due to "Israel's use of telecommunication networks for military objectives." Following a recent ceasefire with Israel, Iran launched a nationwide campaign resulting in the arrest of dozens of individuals accused of being 'saboteurs' and 'spies' allegedly connected to Tel Aviv.


Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Istanbul: Russia, Ukraine agree on prisoner exchange
Shafaq News – Istanbul On Wednesday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations concluded their third round of direct talks in Istanbul, with a new prisoner exchange agreement that includes both civilians and military personnel. According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, citing a diplomatic source, the agreement includes the exchange of 1,200 prisoners from each side 'shortly.' Head of Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky stated that Russia had also offered to return the bodies of 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers, adding that Moscow proposed temporary ceasefires lasting between 24 and 48 hours along frontlines 'to allow both sides to evacuate their dead and wounded.' The head of the Ukrainian delegation revealed that he had proposed a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of August. A diplomatic source told TASS that a decision on a fourth round of negotiations will be made after the implementation of the agreements reached in Istanbul. Despite the renewed diplomatic engagement, hostilities continued on the ground. Russia's Ministry of Defense announced the capture of Varatsyne, a village in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that overnight, Russian strikes cut electricity to more than 220,000 residents.


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP sounds alarm over catastrophic water shortage
Shafaq News – Babil On Wednesday, an Iraqi MP issued an urgent appeal to Iraq's federal government to rescue Babil province from what he described as a catastrophic water shortage. Residents expressed the concerns in interviews with Shafaq News, voicing alarm over the worsening environmental crisis and its impact on agriculture and daily life. Iraq's drought crisis has reached unprecedented levels due to years of low rainfall driven by climate change, compounded by declining water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The drop in inflows is largely attributed to water policies in Iran and Turkiye, particularly dam construction and the diversion of river courses. Earlier, Forbes magazine warned that Iraq, already among the world's driest countries, faces an unprecedented drought with potentially devastating consequences noting that the country's strategic water reserves have fallen to just 10 billion cubic meters—half the amount needed for the summer and significantly below last year's 20 billion.