Lebanon is facing renewed international pressure to disarm Hezbollah, assert state control over all weapons, and begin normalizing ties with Syria, as Western powers move to recalibrate the region’s security balance in the wake of the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran.

According to diplomatic and political sources cited by Lebanese outlet Asas Media, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack recently delivered a five-page document outlining a political and security roadmap Lebanon is expected to implement within five months, at a time when international patience appears to be wearing thin. 

Hezbollah Disarmament 

At the heart of the roadmap is a demand for an official, unanimous Cabinet decision to place all weapons in Lebanon under state control. As Asas Media reports, this decision must be clearly articulated by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and approved in a Cabinet session attended by all ministers, including those affiliated with Hezbollah. The step must include a public acknowledgment by the group that its arsenal will be handed over to the state.

Barrack has reportedly given the Lebanese government just two weeks to adopt the disarmament clause.

Diplomatic sources told Asas Media that Washington views this measure as the only way for Lebanon to prove its commitment to reclaiming sovereignty.

Officials say the objective is not only to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, but also to put an end to its narrative of armed resistance and its role as a non-state actor influencing decisions of war and peace in Lebanon.

Border Talks and Normalization of Ties with Syria 

The roadmap also revives Lebanon’s long-dormant border disputes. During her tenure, former U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus had worked extensively on demarcating Lebanon’s land and maritime frontiers, particularly along the southern border with Israel. Technical preparations are reportedly complete, pending formal Lebanese approval of the disarmament clause.

Preliminary understandings have been reached between Lebanese and Israeli officials on areas stretching from the southern maritime boundary up to the Shebaa Farms. However, Shebaa remains excluded from any final settlement, as the United Nations still designates it as Syrian territory.

Meanwhile, maritime border talks with Cyprus have reportedly progressed, with both sides reportedly reaching mutual clarity on delineation lines.

The more complicated file remains Lebanon’s northern and northeastern border with Syria. According to Asas Media, Barrack urged Lebanese leaders, especially Prime Minister Salam, to initiate normalization steps with Damascus. These would involve coordinated efforts on border demarcation and joint action on unresolved issues, including the return of Syrian refugees. Despite progress on Lebanon’s southern front, the Syrian border remains a key obstacle to full regional integration.

Israeli Withdrawal and End of Airstrikes Tied to Compliance

In return for Lebanon’s approval of the arms monopoly clause, the U.S. is offering significant security incentives. According to the report, Washington has pledged to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from several contested positions in the south, with a full pullout contingent on the deployment of the Lebanese army and the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.

North of the Litani River, Israeli airstrikes are expected to cease once the mechanism for state control over weapons is verified and Hezbollah formally announcing its transformation into a political, not military, party. Lebanese authorities would oversee the step-by-step implementation of the disarmament plan through a specialized committee. 

Lebanese authorities, in coordination with a proposed ceasefire committee, would oversee the step-by-step implementation of the disarmament plan.

Reconstruction Hinges on Peace and Sovereignty

The roadmap also tackles the contentious issue of post-war reconstruction. While international aid is potentially available, it comes with a strict condition: Lebanon must reassert full state sovereignty and end the era in which war-and-peace decisions are made by non-state actors.

The proposal makes it clear that reconstruction funding will depend on reclaiming state authority, curbing Hezbollah’s military role, and aligning itself with broader regional shifts.

Syria Now a Regional Priority

The broader message conveyed by Barrack’s visit, Asas suggests, is that Lebanon is losing its geopolitical relevance. With Syria offering greater stability, clearer borders, and stronger cooperation on regional files, it has surpassed Lebanon in the eyes of international powers. The roadmap presented to Beirut is not only a call to reform, it is a warning not to fall further behind, the sources noted.