📰 2 sources 5 articles · 10 Nov 2026, 22:28 → 2 days ago

Washington demands documented progress on disarming Hezbollah and ties aid to the Lebanese Army

A US State Department spokesperson responded to remarks by Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal, stressing that Lebanon's problems are linked to the continued existence of weapons outside state authority and calling on the army to proceed with disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its infrastructure. In parallel, contacts in Baabda focused on the outcome of US-French consultations over upcoming security arrangements, while Lebanese newspapers quoted a US source saying further aid is tied to tangible progress in implementing Lebanon's commitments.

📍 Where things stand: Washington is still awaiting documented steps by the Lebanese Army, starting from pilot areas and extending to all of Lebanon, with Israel responding with reciprocal measures, while further aid remains tied to tangible and measurable progress.

⏱️ Timeline

10 Nov 2026, 22:28 In a response to journalist Haikal, the US State Department said Washington is waiting for the Lebanese Army to take documented steps on the ground to disarm Hezbollah.
11 Nov 2026, 00:12 A US State Department spokesperson, speaking via MTV in response to remarks by Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal about critics of the military institution, said Lebanon's problems are linked to the continued existence of an Iran-backed militia. He stressed that the tripartite framework aims to ensure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, called on the army to proceed with disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its infrastructure, and noted that Washington has provided more than three billion dollars in aid.
11 Nov 2026, 06:23 Information reported by the newspaper Nidaa al-Watan said contacts in Baabda focused on the outcome of US-French consultations over upcoming security arrangements, with Lebanese optimism about the return of coordination between Washington and Paris on Lebanon after a period of tension. In this context, a US State Department spokesperson affirmed that the Lebanese crisis is linked to the continued existence of weapons outside state authority, and accused Iran and Hezbollah of creating the conditions that led to the Israeli military operations.
11 Nov 2026, 07:00 Al-Liwaa newspaper quoted a US State Department source saying Washington still expects the Lebanese Army to take documented steps to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its infrastructure, starting from pilot areas and extending to all of Lebanon, with Israel responding with reciprocal measures. It added that providing further aid is linked to tangible and measurable progress in implementing Lebanon's commitments within the tripartite framework, and it criticized a discourse that mischaracterizes Lebanon's problems.