US Proposes Plan to Disarm Hezbollah and Secure Israeli Withdrawal by Year-End

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The United States has put forward a detailed proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and securing a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. The plan, which was reviewed during a Lebanese cabinet meeting, is the most comprehensive roadmap presented to date for reducing tensions in the region following last year’s destructive conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.

The initiative was submitted by President Donald Trump’s regional envoy, Tom Barrack, and outlines a four-phase process intended to stabilize the fragile ceasefire brokered in November. The proposal’s urgency is underscored by recent reports of Israeli ceasefire violations, including airstrikes and cross-border military operations, which risk reigniting hostilities.

Under Phase 1, Lebanon’s government is expected to issue a decree within 15 days committing to the full disarmament of Hezbollah by December 31, 2025. In return, Israel would suspend its ground, air, and sea operations inside Lebanese territory.

Phase 2 gives Lebanon 60 days to initiate the disarmament plan, including the approval of a deployment strategy for the Lebanese Armed Forces to oversee the process and ensure all weapons fall under state control. Concurrently, Israel would begin withdrawing from positions it currently occupies in southern Lebanon, and Lebanese prisoners held by Israel would be released with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

In Phase 3, within 90 days of implementation, Israel would complete its withdrawal from the remaining two of the five strategic positions it holds. This stage also includes the launch of rubble clearance and infrastructure repair efforts across Lebanon in preparation for broader reconstruction.

Phase 4, to be completed within 120 days, calls for Hezbollah to surrender all remaining heavy weaponry, including missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). During this final stage, the United States, along with allied nations such as Saudi Arabia, France, and Qatar, would host an economic conference to support Lebanon’s recovery and revitalization. The goal, according to the proposal, is to “implement President Trump’s vision for the return of Lebanon as a prosperous and viable country.”

Hezbollah has not issued a response to the proposal, and Lebanese government ministers have not commented publicly. The U.S. State Department also declined to respond immediately to media inquiries, according to Reuters.

This plan represents a notable diplomatic push from the U.S. to address long-standing regional instability by shifting control of arms to state institutions and offering international support for Lebanon’s recovery. Whether the proposal gains traction amid complex political realities remains to be seen.