United States remains committed to supporting Lebanese state and army, Issa tells Menassa

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Tuesday at his office in Yarzeh, a day after a meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu during which the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament was among the topics discussed.

During the meeting, Issa reaffirmed "his country's commitment to continue supporting the Lebanese state and its institutions, especially the military institution." For his part, Menassa thanked the United States for "its ongoing support for Lebanon and the Lebanese Army."

Regarding the situation in South Lebanon, where the Lebanese Army continues to deploy and dismantle the military infrastructure of the Shiite party, the minister emphasized "the importance of the role of the Cease-fire Monitoring Committee in supporting stability and strengthening coordination, which allows the Lebanese Army to accomplish its missions."

During the Monday meeting in Florida between Trump and Netanyahu, the issue of Hezbollah was addressed. The U.S. president stated that "the Lebanese government is, in some ways, in a position of weakness vis-à-vis Hezbollah. But Hezbollah has misbehaved, so we will see what happens."

Hezbollah has not opposed disarmament south of the Litani river, a region bordering Israel, but refuses to surrender its weapons throughout the country as long as the Israeli army continues to bomb Lebanon and occupies several positions on Lebanese territory.

In this context, MP Michel Moawad reminded, following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, that the issue of the state monopoly on weapons is an "old Lebanese demand," whereas the disarmament of militias was notably included in the Taif Agreement (1989).