Lebanon Welcomes Tom Barrak for a Critical Mission on Disarmament and Reforms Amid Tight Deadlines

U.S. envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrak, arrived in Beirut and met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, according to a statement by the Lebanese Presidency. The visit comes as part of continued U.S. engagement with political, security, and economic issues in Lebanon.

لقاء بين الرئيس عون والسفير الأميركي في تركيا والمبعوث الخاص إلى سوريا، توماس باراك، بحضور سفيرة الولايات المتحدة في لبنان، ليزا جونسون pic.twitter.com/Uytd1gaCLt

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) July 7, 2025

According to circulating reports, Barak reiterated the contents of a proposal previously presented to Lebanese officials during his visit in June. The proposal calls for the consolidation of all weapons under state control, with a specific focus on the disarmament of heavy and advanced weapons held by Hezbollah, including ballistic missiles and armed drones, within a defined timeframe. The document reportedly considers light and medium weapons as internal Lebanese matters.

The proposal also addresses financial and economic reforms, including the shutdown of unofficial financial institutions such as “Al-Qard Al-Hassan,” enhanced oversight of border crossings and public facilities, and stricter controls to prevent money smuggling. It further recommends improving political relations with Syria to secure the shared border and curb cross-border smuggling.

According to the same sources, the proposal links any future international financial support or reconstruction efforts to Lebanon’s progress on the disarmament file. It states that Hezbollah could remain a political entity within Lebanon’s official institutions, provided it ceases armed activities. The Lebanese government is expected to submit a clear implementation plan within two months. Failure to do so, the document warns, could prompt potential Israeli military action targeting weapon storage sites.

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