US Approves $230 Million Security Funding for Lebanon Amid Efforts to Disarm Hezbollah

Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament demands following the devastating conflict with Israel.

Washington:

The Trump administration has approved $230 million in funding for Lebanon's security forces this week as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah, according to sources in both Washington and Beirut.

A source in Lebanon familiar with the details confirmed the funding package includes $190 million allocated for the Lebanese Armed Forces and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces.

Democratic congressional aides stated that the funds were released just before the end of the U.S. fiscal year on September 30. One aide, speaking anonymously to reporters, emphasized, "For a small country like Lebanon, that's really, really significant."

The State Department did not respond when asked to comment on the matter. This substantial financial support comes at a time when the Republican administration has generally been reducing foreign assistance programs under its "America First" spending policy.

The funding release appears to reflect President Trump's prioritization of resolving the conflict in Gaza and stabilizing the broader Middle East region.

The year-long conflict between Israel and Lebanon has severely weakened Hezbollah and left large portions of Lebanon devastated.

On August 5, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requested that the U.S.-supported Lebanese army develop a plan ensuring all weapons in the country would be under security forces' control by year's end.

Despite the catastrophic war with Israel, Hezbollah has consistently refused calls to disarm. However, the Iran-backed organization faces mounting pressure to surrender its weapons from both domestic rivals and Washington.

According to the Lebanese source, this funding will enable the Internal Security Forces to assume responsibility for internal security operations, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to concentrate on other critical military missions.