US Warns Lebanon Against Hezbollah Joining Conflict

Lebanon has received messages from the United States and other Western and Arab entities warning against involvement in a potential conflict between Israel and Iran. According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is close to Hezbollah, a senior Lebanese government official stated that these messages included a warning that Hezbollah's entry into the fighting would trigger a "broad and severe" Israeli response. The official indicated that a message from Washington, conveyed to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, explicitly stated that Hezbollah's involvement in a war would be met with an Israeli response that "breaks all limitations." It is believed that Lebanon's Ambassador to the United States, Nada Mouawad, delivered this message.

These warnings come ahead of a trilateral military meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Tampa, Florida, involving representatives from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. President Aoun announced that Lebanon would send a military delegation to the meeting, and that ending the Israeli escalation would be among the demands presented. Al-Akhbar reported that Washington is seeking to promote direct coordination between the Lebanese army and the IDF, focusing on the security and military implementation mechanisms of a framework agreement. The US stance on including a Lebanese political representative in the meeting remains unclear.

Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that the meeting is linked to the possibility of renewed conflict with Iran and the desire by the US and Israel to reduce the risk of an additional front opening in Lebanon. In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently expressed doubt about the Lebanese government's ability to disarm Hezbollah, stating that Israel would remain in the security zone until the organization is disarmed, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Hezbollah.

Concurrently, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is visiting Beirut, with discussions focusing on the future of the UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon. During his meeting with Prime Minister Salam, a full Israeli withdrawal, the reconstruction of southern Lebanon, and international arrangements for the post-UNIFIL period were discussed, alongside preventing a security vacuum and strengthening the Lebanese army. Sources cited by Al-Akhbar indicated that France and Lebanon favor extending UNIFIL's mandate but have not yet secured sufficient international and Arab support to overcome US opposition. The report also claimed that Washington prefers to focus Arab and European aid on strengthening Lebanese state control, consolidating weapons within the country, and preventing smuggling across borders and entry points.