Lebanon backs US plan for Hezbollah disarmament

Lebanon’s government has publicly backed a US plan to force Hezbollah to disarm as part of the country’s ceasefire with Israel.

The proposal, devised by the US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, is designed to "extend and stabilise" the ceasefire with Israel, using a "a detailed deployment plan" from its army to restrict Hezbollah's weapons supply.

The IDF is still conducting limited military operations in Lebanon after Hezbollah attacked Israel the day after Hamas’ October 7 massacres. A ceasefire was agreed between the two countries in 2024, but the military retained a presence in the south, claiming that the Lebanese Army failed to deploy fast enough to displace the decimated terror group.
According to Reuters, Barrack’s proposal consists of four phases:

1. Lebanon commits to disarming Hezbollah by December 31 and Israel ceases military operations in the country
2.  Implementation of the disarmament plan begins withing 60 days, during which Israel withdraws from most of its positions in sourthern Lebanon
3. Israel withdraws from its final positions within 90 days, while funding is sourced to remove rubble and prepare for reconstruction
4. Hezbollah’s heavy weapons are dismantled within 120 days, with full disarmament achieved by the end of the year.

Countries including the US, Saudi Arabia, France and Qatar will also organised an “economic conference” to support Lebanese reconstruction during Phase Four.