BEIRUT — U.S. Middle East envoy Tom Barrack announced Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are prepared to invest in an economic development zone in southern Lebanon, aimed at providing livelihoods for former Hezbollah members and their supporters following a potential disarmament. The initiative comes amid ongoing regional discussions after Lebanon’s government declared its intention to disarm the militant group by year’s end—a move rejected by Hezbollah’s leadership, which insists on retaining its arms. n nBarrack made the remarks in Beirut following diplomatic visits to Israel and Syria, where he discussed Lebanon’s evolving security landscape. He emphasized the need for economic alternatives for approximately 40,000 individuals historically funded by Iran to participate in armed activities. “Taking away weapons without offering employment opportunities isn’t sustainable,” Barrack stated. “We can’t expect people to suddenly shift to farming without support.” n nThe U.S.-backed Lebanese military is currently drafting a disarmament strategy, expected to be finalized by late August, with a government decision anticipated by September 2. Barrack stressed that Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are ready to contribute financially to the southern region if a portion of the population is asked to relinquish their armed roles. “This is a collective effort involving the Gulf, the United States, and Lebanese institutions to build an economic framework that ensures stability,” he said. n nWhen questioned about direct engagement with Iran on the Hezbollah issue, Barrack implied such discussions are already underway, abruptly ending the press briefing shortly after. n nOn peacekeeping matters, Barrack expressed U.S. preference for strengthening the Lebanese armed forces over continuing full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed since 1978. The U.S. supports only a one-year extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, as decided in a recent UN vote. n nThe conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted days after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, escalated into full-scale war by September 2024, resulting in over 4,000 fatalities and $11 billion in damages in Lebanon, according to World Bank estimates. A U.S.-mediated ceasefire ended hostilities in November, though Israel has continued targeted airstrikes, killing numerous Hezbollah operatives. n nAmnesty International released a report Tuesday documenting more than 10,000 buildings in southern Lebanon destroyed or severely damaged between October 2024 and January of this year. The organization accused Israeli forces of potentially breaching international law by demolishing civilian infrastructure using explosives and bulldozers in occupied areas after active combat ceased, where no immediate military threat existed. n nIsraeli troops remain stationed at five strategic locations along the border despite the ceasefire, having maintained control over large sections of the area for weeks after the agreement took effect. n
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US envoy: Saudi Arabia, Qatar to invest in Lebanon economic zone for disarmed Hezbollah
BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia and Qatar are ready to invest in an economic zone in south Lebanon near the border with Israel that would create jobs for members of the militant Hezbollah group and its supporters once they lay down their weapons, President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East said Tuesday. n nTom Barrack made his comments in Beirut after trips to Israel and Syria where he discussed with officials there the ongoing situation in Lebanon following this month’s decision by the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah’s leader rejected the government’s plan, vowing to keep the weapons. n nOn Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces could begin withdrawing from territory they hold in southern Lebanon after the Lebanese government’s “momentous decision” to disarm Hezbollah. n nThe U.S.-backed Lebanese army is preparing a plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament that should be ready by the end of August. The government is expected to discuss the army’s plan and approve it during a meeting scheduled for Sept. 2. n n“We have to have money coming into the system. The money will come from the Gulf,” Barrack told reporters after meeting President Joseph Aoun. “Qatar and Saudi Arabia are partners and are willing to do that for the south (of Lebanon) if we’re asking a portion of the Lebanese community to give up their livelihood.” n n“We have 40,000 people that are being paid by Iran to fight. What are you gonna do with them? Take their weapon and say ‘by the way, good luck planting olive trees’? It can’t happen. We have to help them,” Barrack said. He was referring to tens of thousands of Hezbollah members who have been funded since the early 1980s by Tehran. n n“We, all of us, the Gulf, the U.S., the Lebanese are all gonna act together to create an economic forum that is gonna produce a livelihood,” Barrack said. n nWhen asked why the U.S. doesn’t go to discuss the Hezbollah issue directly with Iran rather than traveling to Israel and Syria, Barrack said: “You think that’s not happening? Goodbye.” Barrack then ended his news conference and walked out of the room. n nSpeaking on the U.N. peacekeeping force that has been deployed in south Lebanon since Israel first invaded the country in 1978, Barrack said the U.S. would rather fund the Lebanese army than the force that is known as UNIFIL. Speaking about this week’s vote at the United Nations in New York, Barrack said the U.S. backs extending UNIFIL’s term for one year only. n nA low-level conflict between Israel and Hezbollah started a day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack against Israel from Gaza, when Hezbollah began launching rockets across the border in support of its Palestinian ally. The conflict escalated into war in September 2024 and left more than 4,000 people dead, and caused destruction worth $11 billion in Lebanon, according to the World Bank. n nThe war ended in November with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and since then Hezbollah says it has ended its presence along the border area. Israel has continued almost daily airstrikes that have killed dozens of Hezbollah members. n nAmnesty International in a report released Tuesday said it had identified more than 10,000 buildings that were “heavily damaged or destroyed” in southern Lebanon between October 2024 and January this year. n nIsraeli forces remained in much of the border area for weeks after the ceasefire agreement went into effect and are still holding five strategic points. n nAmnesty’s report alleged that Israeli forces may have violated international law by destroying civilian property in areas they were controlling with “manually laid explosives and bulldozers” after the active fighting had ended and there was no longer an “imperative military necessity.” n n____ n nAssociated Press writer Abby Sewell contributed to this report.