The U.S. administration supports Israel’s military efforts to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah, arguing that diplomacy has failed to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“The United States backs Israel’s efforts to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah, as diplomacy has failed to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon,” a White House official told This is Beirut on condition of anonymity.
“If Hezbollah refuses to stand down, military action is deemed necessary, as the group poses a direct danger to Israel and to regional stability. The core issue is Iran’s influence in the region, and lasting peace in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza can only be achieved once Iranian-backed militant groups are dismantled,” the official added.
The comments come amid repeated accusations by Israel that Hezbollah has violated ceasefire understandings along the border, claims U.S. officials have largely supported.
U.S. Pressures Lebanon Over Hezbollah
The U.S. has led diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon, urging both sides to pursue negotiations, but patience is wearing thin. Lebanon’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, said that Beirut has received warnings from “Arab and international parties” that Jerusalem was preparing for a large-scale operation against Hezbollah’s presence on the border.
Additionally, in response to Hezbollah’s ongoing militarization, the Trump administration has tied funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to progress on disarmament in the proposed 2026 U.S. defense bill. The bill includes provisions warning that U.S. military aid could be suspended if the LAF fails to take more decisive action against Hezbollah. The defense bill’s conditionality reflects growing U.S. frustration with the militant group’s continued militarization, signaling that Washington may escalate pressure if Lebanon does not enforce disarmament.
Compounding U.S. concerns, Hezbollah has violated the ceasefire agreement 1,900 times since it came into effect last year, according to the Israeli military. U.S. officials have pointed to these repeated violations as evidence that the ceasefire has failed to address Hezbollah’s continued military buildup, reinforcing Washington’s stance that diplomatic measures alone will not be enough to resolve the threat posed by the Iran-backed group.
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