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3. No More Free Passes: U.S. Ties Security Aid to Lebanese Action

“We can’t keep writing checks while the LAF and Hezbollah act as parallel militaries. At some point, we’re just subsidizing the status quo.”

The U.S. Congress has sent a clear, stern message to Beirut that Washington’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is no longer a blank check. The latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), up for a vote in the House of Representatives, imposes new conditions and restrictions on U.S. aid to the Lebanese army, reflecting growing impatience with Beirut’s slow progress in implementing reforms and disarming Hezbollah.

The bill, which authorizes U.S. defense spending, marks a major policy shift for Washington, which has long backed the LAF as a bulwark of Lebanese sovereignty and a counterweight to Hezbollah. Yet the returns on that investment have dwindled as Hezbollah’s arsenal and political grip have grown, while corruption and mismanagement have devastated Lebanon’s economy and institutions.

Congressional aides say the 2026 NDAA, which is expected to be passed into law before year’s end, sends a clear message that business as usual is over for Lebanon.

“We can’t keep writing checks while the LAF and Hezbollah act as parallel militaries,” one House Foreign Affairs Committee staffer told This is Beirut.  “At some point, we’re just subsidizing the status quo.”

Sharper Conditions on LAF Aid

By tying U.S. aid to Lebanon’s progress in governance and confronting Hezbollah’s parallel security structure, the 3,086-page compromise bill makes clear that Washington’s support now requires real, verifiable action.

The NDAA channels LAF counterterrorism aid to confront Hezbollah, Hamas, ISIS, and similar groups, restricting funds to capabilities that directly support the LAF’s countermeasures against these threats. This narrows the U.S. assistance mandate and seeks to close the gap between Washington’s goal of expanding state authority and Hezbollah’s entrenched presence in Lebanon.

The legislation requires Pentagon reports on the LAF’s efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. By June 30, 2026, the Secretary of War must submit a detailed report to congressional defense committees on the LAF’s progress, including a rubric for evaluating these efforts.

If progress lags, U.S. security assistance may be suspended, shifting Washington’s policy from open-ended support to a transactional approach that ties each tranche of aid to measurable Lebanese disarmament actions.

Congressman Darin LaHood, a key supporter of the bill’s Middle East provisions, said that this year’s NDAA provides support for the LAF that “must be used to fully disarm Hezbollah throughout Lebanon.”

“The US will continue to monitor and measure the progress of this work,” he told This is Beirut.

Growing Skepticism over Lebanon’s Intentions

Hezbollah has been violating the November 27, 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire by refusing to hand over its weapons, while the LAF has limited its disarmament efforts to areas south of the Litani, reinforcing perceptions in Washington that Beirut is unwilling or unable to confront the group head-on.

"The NDAA on Lebanon shows there are no more free lunches for the LAF. It makes no sense for America to fund an army unwilling to confront an America-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” retired U.S. diplomat Alberto Fernandez told This is Beirut.

This sentiment now prevails in Congress, where legislators perceive Washington is underwriting a security architecture that leaves Hezbollah’s core capacities untouched. The NDAA’s call for a Department of War report on LAF progress against Hezbollah’s arsenal underscores Washington’s doubts about Beirut’s willingness to act.

“Some in Congress are skeptical of the LAF’s commitment to fully disarm non-state militias, especially Hezbollah,” Robert Satloff, Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute told This is Beirut.

Satloff said this skepticism has been fueled by Lebanese politicians and military officials proposing the LAF’s “containment” of Hezbollah’s arms, and not the actual seizure of its weapons, which would run contrary to the terms of the ceasefire. “There have been signals from Beirut suggesting less enthusiasm to disarm non-state militias north of the Litani,” he said.

On November 27, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that the LAF plans to seize Hezbollah’s arms south of the Litani by year’s end, while maintaining a broader policy of containing the arms, including blocking their movement, elsewhere.

“This has triggered concern among some members of Congress. The NDAA is only requesting a report on this next year, but it signals to the Lebanese government and armed forces that Washington is watching carefully,” the Washington Institute executive director said.

“It’s not punitive but underscores that this issue is closely monitored.”

A Test of Lebanon’s Reform Narrative

The NDAA’s Lebanon provisions come amid mounting foreign pressure on Beirut to implement a long-delayed reform agenda in return for international financial support. From IMF negotiations to Gulf and European stabilization packages, donors have tied assistance to verifiable changes in governance, energy policy, and central bank accountability. Despite these efforts, implementation has lagged significantly.

By tying security assistance to progress on Hezbollah’s disarmament, Congress brings Lebanon’s most sensitive issue—Hezbollah’s weapons—into the wider debate over conditional support. Fernandez’s remark that there are “no more free lunches” underscores that U.S. lawmakers will not treat the LAF’s professional reputation as separate from the political system it serves. This is especially true while the Lebanese system tolerates a powerful, Iranian-backed militia outside state control.

Lebanese officials say pushing the LAF to confront Hezbollah could trigger civil conflict. Some U.S. officials warn that cutting security aid could weaken the key stabilizing institution in the country. The NDAA aims to navigate this dilemma by conditioning, not slashing, assistance.

The 2026 NDAA brings incremental, but significant change. Aid is now explicitly conditioned on meeting clear expectations and oversight. This reflects a broader U.S. trend of tying assistance to tangible reforms by partner governments, with an emphasis on diminishing the power of non-state armed groups, especially those supported by Iran. With it, Congress can weigh in on whether the LAF’s actions match Washington’s expectations.

If Hezbollah’s capabilities remain intact and the LAF continues to sidestep direct confrontation, the NDAA signals escalating conditionality, including potential suspensions or redirection of funds. U.S. security aid will require clear, concrete action from Beirut as Washington’s patience is nearly exhausted.