The United States has reportedly given Lebanon until the end of November to take concrete steps toward disarming Hezbollah. It warned that failure to comply could lead to a large-scale Israeli military assault, according to a report by Israel's Channel 13 on Tuesday evening.
US envoy to Lebanon Tom Barrack demanded that the Lebanese Armed Forces alter the current dynamics regarding Hezbollah’s arsenal. If no progress is made, Washington is prepared to endorse Israeli strikes, the report said.
In early August, the Lebanese government approved a US-backed plan calling for the disarmament of all non-state actors and tasked the army with drafting a roadmap to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
The move triggered protests and political backlash, including intense parliamentary clashes between Hezbollah-affiliated MPs and cabinet members.
Lebanon has yet to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, and reaffirmed by a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel last year.
The resolution requires Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and limits heavy weapons possession to the Lebanese army. It also requires Israel to withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon, and actively prevent any attacks into Lebanese territory.
In recent days, despite the standing ceasefire and the UNSC resolution, the Israeli military has conducted a series of strikes in Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah commanders it accuses of violating the truce and posing an ongoing threat.
While Israel has withdrawn from some areas, it also continues to occupy five hilltop sites in southern Lebanon. Tel Aviv has made its full withdrawal conditional on Hezbollah’s disarmament and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the border.
Hezbollah has rejected these terms, calling disarmament a form of surrender and warning that Israel cannot be trusted to honor its commitments.
Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned that the decision risked igniting civil war. “We are ready to fight a Karbala-like battle, if necessary, against the Israeli-American project, no matter the price,” he said. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded by denouncing Qassem’s remarks as “unacceptable” and “containing a veiled threat of civil war.”
According to Channel 13, Washington has asked Israel to temporarily scale back its military operations during the grace period to allow the Lebanese government a chance to respond—a timeline US officials view as essential to curbing Hezbollah’s influence.
These developments come as Israeli forces prepare for a potential short-term conflict, with officials warning that continued rearmament by Hezbollah could provoke a broader military campaign.
Tensions have steadily escalated along Lebanon’s southern border, stoking fears of a wider regional conflagration.
Israeli intelligence claims to have observed increased Hezbollah activity, including the reconstruction of military infrastructure north of the Litani, the transfer of short-range rockets, and the creation of local support cells in southern Lebanese villages—a justification for renewing the assault.
On Monday, Israel's state broadcaster warned that “no place will be safe if the necessity arises,” if Hezbollah continues importing arms. Analysts have described Israel’s recent limited airstrikes as “pressure tactics,” not yet a full prelude to war.
In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that diplomacy remains Beirut’s only viable option, stating, “Negotiation is more important than the language of war—we have already seen what war has done to us.”
Aoun called for national unity, urging Lebanon’s political, religious, and security institutions to put the country’s interests above partisan agendas.
Egypt has also recently intensified its role as a mediator for reaching a political solution between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation.
