U.S. Proposes Comprehensive Plan for Disarming Hezbollah and Stabilizing Lebanon

The United States has put forth a proposal to Lebanon that calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah by December 31, 2025, while also seeking to conclude Israel's military activities in the region. This plan, introduced by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, was a key topic in a cabinet meeting in Beirut where Lebanese officials acknowledged only the goals of the proposal without delving into specifics.

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos indicated that the cabinet's discussion was limited and did not include the finer points of the U.S. plan. The main objectives include the disassembly of Hezbollah’s armed presence, deployment of Lebanese military forces to critical areas, ensuring an Israeli troop withdrawal from five strategic locations, and resolving prisoner issues through indirect negotiations. Moreover, there will be an effort to permanently delineate Lebanon's borders with both Israel and Syria.

Despite the attempt to discuss this significant plan, representatives from Hezbollah and their allies chose to exit the meeting in protest. The tensions surrounding the proposal arise from the backdrop of last year's military conflict, which was ignited when Hezbollah attacked Israeli positions, aligning itself with Hamas during the current Gaza crisis. The U.S. initiative is intended to prolong and solidify a ceasefire that was established in November, especially in light of ongoing issues regarding Israeli violations of this truce.

The proposed plan outlines a phased approach. The first phase involves the Lebanese government issuing a decree to commit to the disarmament timeline, during which Israel must halt all military operations. The second phase would see Lebanon initiate the actual disarmament process and develop a plan for the Lebanese military's deployment. Concurrently, Israel would start its withdrawal from the identified positions, alongside efforts to cooperate with the ICRC on prisoner releases.

The third phase implies that Israel will retire from the last two positions it occupies, while also focusing on removing debris and rehabilitating infrastructure in Lebanon for rebuilding. Finally, the fourth phase mandates the dismantling of Hezbollah's remaining heavy weaponry, with a potential economic conference organized by the U.S. and its allies to support Lebanon's recovery and aim towards a renewed state of prosperity.