The United States has presented Lebanon with a detailed proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year. The plan also includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from five military positions in southern Lebanon. This proposal, spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s envoy, Tom Barrack, was discussed during a Lebanese cabinet meeting on Thursday.
According to documents reviewed, the US plan outlines a phased strategy for ending Hezbollah’s armed operations, resolving prisoner issues, and strengthening Lebanon’s state authority along its borders. The Lebanese information minister confirmed that the cabinet welcomed the objectives of the plan but did not yet fully deliberate its details.
Cabinet reactions and Hezbollah walkout
Ministers from Hezbollah and their allied parties reportedly walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest over the proposal’s inclusion on the agenda. Though Hezbollah has not issued an official statement, political sources say the group is strongly opposed to any plan that calls for disarmament.
The proposal follows escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, particularly after the 2023 conflict that saw heavy Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah had launched attacks in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war, triggering Israeli retaliation that damaged both infrastructure and civilian areas.
Four-phase roadmap targets full disarmament
The US plan lays out four main phases:
Phase 1: Within 15 days, Lebanon must issue a decree committing to disarm Hezbollah by December 31, 2025. In return, Israel would halt all military actions—air, land, and sea.
Phase 2: Within 60 days, Lebanon’s army is to begin disarmament operations under a detailed deployment plan. Israel will start withdrawing from its positions in the south, and the Red Cross would assist in prisoner releases.
Phase 3: By the 90-day mark, Israel must withdraw from the final two of its five positions. Reconstruction and cleanup efforts in Lebanon are to begin.
Phase 4: Within 120 days, Hezbollah’s remaining weapons—missiles and drones—must be surrendered. An international economic conference would then be organized by the US, France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to support Lebanon’s recovery and President Trump’s vision of restoring Lebanon’s economic strength.
Trump administration pushes for quick resolution
A key part of the US plan is to stabilize the fragile ceasefire agreement brokered last November. The proposal warns that recent Israeli military actions, especially cross-border strikes—risk breaking the fragile peace, making urgent action necessary.
Tom Barrack’s mission reflects the Trump administration’s wider effort to contain Iranian influence in the region and to position the US as the lead mediator in Middle East conflicts. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposal is being viewed in Washington as a “real chance” to bring Lebanon back from the brink and reduce the threat of war along Israel’s northern border.
US plan seeks Hezbollah disarmed by year-end
The US plan seeks Hezbollah disarmed by year-end, tying the process to an Israeli withdrawal and international economic aid. While the Lebanese cabinet has approved the plan’s goals, strong opposition from Hezbollah and regional uncertainties may complicate its execution.
