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US Ambassador Michel Issa links Hezbollah disarmament to ceasefire
US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has signaled that while the United States is not currently in direct contact with Hezbollah, it has not ruled out the possibility of future negotiations. Speaking from Dar al-Fatwa, Issa emphasized that any such dialogue would be conditional on Hezbollah having something meaningful to offer.
Issa placed the responsibility for the continued Israeli military strikes on Hezbollah, stating that an agreement to stop hostilities has not been reached because the group refuses to disarm. He suggested that the group's refusal to act or surrender its weapons is a primary obstacle to stability. This position aligns with the view that Hezbollah's disarmament is a prerequisite for any political or military breakthrough.
These comments follow statements by US envoy Tom Barrack, who previously suggested that Hezbollah could not be excluded from any regional settlement. While Barrack later clarified there is no active communication, the ambiguity regarding US willingness to engage with the group has sparked significant debate within Lebanon regarding the priorities of the state and the path toward a ceasefire.
Entities
Hezbollah · Israel · Israel · Lebanon · Michel Issa · Tom Barrack · United States · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] US envoy Tom Barrack suggested Hezbollah must be included in any settlement. ch23.com · french.almanar.com.lb · www.jforum.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The US Ambassador attributed the continuation of Israeli attacks to Hezbollah's refusal to disarm. ch23.com · www.alsadaranews.com · www.jforum.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The US Ambassador stated that the US has not ruled out negotiations with Hezbollah. ch23.com · french.almanar.com.lb · www.jforum.fr
- [DISPUTED] Tom Barrack clarified that there is currently no direct communication with Hezbollah. ch23.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Any potential negotiation with Hezbollah is conditional on the group having something to offer the US. ch23.com · french.almanar.com.lb · www.jforum.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hezbollah official Mahmoud Comati stated the group is open to dialogue with the US. www.jforum.fr