Jumblat Defends Views as Hezbollah MP Criticizes US Interference in Lebanon

What happened

Lebanese news outlet Naharnet reported that former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat criticized the Lebanese government’s direct negotiations with Israel, arguing that Lebanon was not consulted before signing a tripartite framework deal involving Israel. Jumblat told L'Orient-Le Jour that he believes the US role in pressuring Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon has been futile and that Lebanon should have instead supported the American-Iranian Islamabad track, which he views as a more viable diplomatic avenue.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Jumblat also called for dialogue with Hezbollah and Iran, stating in the interview that Shiite communities cannot simply be excluded or eliminated from Lebanese political life. He warned against the possibility of civil war, suggesting that some Lebanese actors and foreign diplomats might be intentionally fostering strife. These remarks were met with a sharp rebuttal from a US State Department spokesman who accused Jumblat of disregarding principles and his constituency, emphasizing that the US seeks engagement with Hezbollah only through the Lebanese state on the issue of disarmament.

In a parallel reaction, Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar condemned the US administration’s interference, labeling it as 'brazen insolence' and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty. Ammar defended Jumblat’s right to free expression while highlighting what he termed unprecedented levels of American interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs. His comments underline the entrenched opposition within Hezbollah to US policies and actions in Lebanon.

Known from the source

• Walid Jumblat criticized Lebanon's direct negotiations with Israel and stated the Lebanese Parliament and Cabinet were not consulted before a tripartite framework deal was signed.
• Jumblat reportedly called for dialogue with Hezbollah and Iran and warned against civil war.
• A US State Department spokesman accused Jumblat of having little regard for principle and stated the US engages Hezbollah only through the Lebanese state regarding disarmament.
• Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar condemned US interference, calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and defended Jumblat's right to express his opinion.

What remains unclear

The political debate touches on broader implications for Lebanon’s fragile political balance, sovereignty concerns, and the international community’s role in the country. Jumblat’s suggestions to pivot toward the Islamabad track and calls for inclusive dialogue with Hezbollah reflect critical fault lines over how Lebanon should handle its security and diplomatic challenges, particularly regarding the Israeli border and Hezbollah’s armed presence.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of Jumblat’s comments on the Islamabad track and its endorsement as an alternative to direct negotiations with Israel. Clarification on the nature and terms of the tripartite framework deal and which Lebanese bodies were officially consulted. Confirmation of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar’s full statements on US interference and the extent of his claims about sovereignty violations.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Naharnet Lebanon. Open the source.