Schenker: Lebanese government’s actions in southern Lebanon are 'good and necessary, but so far insufficient'

BEIRUT — Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker told Lebanese television channel LBCI on Friday that the Lebanese government’s actions in southern Lebanon regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament are “good and necessary, but so far insufficient.”

Since the Cabinet decision on Aug. 5 for the Lebanese Army to establish the state’s monopoly on arms, Hezbollah has refused to hand over its arsenal as long as Israeli attacks and occupation continue in southern Lebanon. Tasked by the government in September with outlining and implementing a plan to disarm Hezbollah, the army says it has completed most of the first phase of operations south of the Litani River, with efforts set to continue through the end of the year.

Schenker called for the inspection of private property as part of the disarmament process, a step the Lebanese Army has so far avoided to prevent sparking internal conflict. He also urged the government to seize heavy weapons and caches, destroy them, and prevent their transfer to Iraq or the Houthis.

Schenker argued that the problem behind the government’s insufficient actions is not “capacity but political will.” “For this reason,” he said, “pressure from the Trump administration on Lebanon has increased to move forward on disarmament.”

He cited credible reports that “Hezbollah is rebuilding its capabilities and storing weapons on private property,” echoing claims Israel has made in recent months. Schenker warned that if the Lebanese government does not act, “Israel will do so itself,” and suggested that U.S. assistance to Lebanon could be conditioned on the army’s performance. “The international community would no longer support any leniency in the disarmament process,” he added.

He urged the Israeli government to show goodwill in response to the Lebanese government’s steps — “perhaps by withdrawing from one position” — and work in parallel with Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah both south and north of the Litani River. Despite the November 2024 cease-fire following over a year of conflict, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon and maintains control of several areas in the South.

Regarding potential economic cooperation between Lebanon and Israel, Schenker said it is too early to discuss, noting he has not seen a detailed U.S. proposal for a “Trump economic zone” in southern Lebanon.

On border demarcation, he said resolving disputes would require little effort, citing about 12 contested points spanning several hundred meters. Regarding the Shebaa Farms, he noted they are technically Syrian territory, and excluding them would simplify negotiations.

He also criticized UNIFIL, stating that successive peacekeeping reports never once mentioned “Hezbollah,” which he argued shows the force “could not be trusted over the years and had failed to carry out its mandate.”

Finally, Schenker warned that “Lebanon is not making sufficient and rapid progress on reforms, and the chance to emerge from its financial crisis will not be available forever.”