Hezbollah a ‘legitimate political party’ within Lebanon, US envoy says

Convincing Hezbollah to springiness up its weapons is the occupation of the Lebanese government, and the United States is not funny successful pressuring anybody, the US peculiar envoy for Syrian affairs, Tom Barrack, has told Al Jazeera.

Barrack’s comments travel a time aft Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, erstwhile again rejected the Lebanese government’s attempts for the radical to disarm, which was 1 of the cardinal parts of the November ceasefire betwixt Israel and Lebanon.

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“We volition ne'er wantonness our weapons, nor volition we relinquish them,” Naim said connected Saturday, adding that Hezbollah would proceed to “confront immoderate task that serves Israel”. Hezbollah maintains that the disarmament program approved by the Lebanese authorities lone serves Israel’s interests.

The US and its closest determination ally, Israel, person been seeking the implicit disarmament of Hezbollah, which started firing rockets astatine Israel a time aft Israel launched its warfare connected Gaza connected October 7, 2023. By the clip a ceasefire was agreed to connected November 27, Israel’s strikes connected Lebanon had crippled Hezbollah’s subject capableness and killed much than 4,000 people.

Though weakened by the war, Hezbollah remains a large governmental unit representing the Shia community, and its allies clasp seats successful the parliament.

In an exclusive interrogation with Al Jazeera Arabic, Barrack said that Hezbollah is “a morganatic governmental enactment successful Lebanon”, adding that its legitimacy wrong the confessional power-sharing system, wherever governmental presumption is divided among sects, complicates ending the ongoing struggle with Israel.

Near-daily Israeli attacks

The US envoy described Hezbollah, which the US classifies arsenic a overseas “terrorist” organisation, arsenic “an indispensable portion of the Lebanese governmental system”.

This constitutes “a analyzable occupation for Lebanese governmental leaders”, who agreed to the objectives of a US-backed plan for Hezbollah to manus successful their arsenal.

Lebanon’s cabinet approved the plan connected August 7, contempt Hezbollah’s outright refusal to disarm, raising fears that Israel could intensify attacks connected Lebanon.

Israel continues to inhabit Lebanese territory and has carried retired near-daily attacks successful confederate Lebanon since the November ceasefire agreement.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency connected Sunday reported “a series” of Israeli aerial strikes adjacent the towns of Kfar Rumman and Jarmak, and a drone onslaught connected a location successful Humin, each successful the country’s south.

Barrack, the US envoy, said the US was acceptable to assistance Lebanon “resolve the conflict”, but that it was “not our responsibility”. “We don’t unit anyone, and we won’t dictate what Lebanon should do, nor volition Israel,” helium said.

“As for Lebanon, we said this is your interior problem. If you privation a unified service and a existent state, you person to disarm the parties and groups that don’t comply.”

The envoy said the simmering struggle with Israel would proceed “as agelong arsenic Israel feels that Hezbollah is hostile, rebuilding and rearming”.

US looking astatine aboriginal of Syria, Gaza

Barrack said that US President Donald Trump was “eager” to extremity the warfare successful Gaza, and was looking for “the close answer” that would present that result.

“I judge that the president, aft listening to the Arab leaders, realised the value of moving guardant and getting it done quickly,” helium told Al Jazeera.

The envoy besides welcomed Syria’s archetypal appearance astatine the United Nations General Assembly successful astir 60 years, aft the ousting of erstwhile President Bashar al-Assad paved the mode for the country’s readmission.

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has taken respective steps successful the months since al-Assad’s removal successful January, including establishing caller institutions, readying to clasp elections and encouraging overseas investment.

The US removed the Syrian equipped radical Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which al-Sharaa headed, from its database of “foreign violent organisations” successful July, reflecting a displacement successful argumentation towards post-Assad Syria.

Barrack said that Trump had chosen to “give them a chance” and welcomed al-Sharaa’s efforts to lick lingering conflicts successful the confederate and northeastern parts of the country.

“It takes time, but they’re doing everything they tin do,” the envoy said.