US Ambassador Says All Lebanese Want Hezbollah Disarmed

What happened

According to Naharnet, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa stated on Thursday that the Lebanese people broadly agree on the necessity of disarming Hezbollah, though there are different views on the method. He emphasized that Hezbollah must hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state.

Ambassador Issa criticized Hezbollah’s ties and obedience to Iran, claiming the group does not engage with Lebanon’s government, the US, or Israel, and instead takes its orders solely from Tehran. He said the US demands only that Hezbollah relinquish its arms.

The ambassador’s remarks followed a meeting with Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, the spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Druze community. Issa also mentioned that communication between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah continues, adding that current US-Iran negotiations have indirect links to Lebanon's situation.

Known from the source

• US Ambassador Michel Issa stated that all Lebanese want Hezbollah disarmed.
• Issa said Hezbollah must hand over its arms to the Lebanese state.
• Issa claims Hezbollah follows orders only from Iran and does not communicate with the Lebanese state, the US, or Israel.
• Communication is ongoing between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah, according to Issa.
• US-Iranian negotiations are indirectly linked to Lebanon, per Issa.

What remains unclear

This statement underscores ongoing tensions around Hezbollah's military role in Lebanon, which carries significance for both internal Lebanese politics and the broader regional balance, especially amid limited progress in peace talks and Israeli-Lebanese border security challenges.

What remains unclear: Verify any official response or comment from Hezbollah regarding disarmament demands. Confirm details and status of communication between President Aoun and Hezbollah. Clarify the nature and extent of the link between US-Iran negotiations and Lebanon as claimed by the ambassador. Ensure no unconfirmed casualty figures or attack attributions are introduced in follow-up reporting.

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.