Barrack says Israel decides deadline given to Lebanon, not US

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has warned that Lebanon’s failure to take tangible steps toward disarming Hezbollah would lead to perpetuating the current situation which involves airstrikes in the South and drones over Beirut, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported.

Barrack, however, said that he is optimistic about the ongoing deliberations, claiming that Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.

The U.S. envoy voiced his remarks in a meeting with a small number of journalists prior to departing Beirut.

Noting that if Israel had a desire to swallow Lebanon, it would have done that in the blink of an eye, Barrack stressed that this is not Israel’s desire.

Adding that Lebanon has an opportunity, the U.S. envoy said even Hezbollah has a chance to reach a deal with Israel and that he would have told them that if he could talk to them.

Suggesting that an Iran-U.S. deal is very likely, Barrack said such an agreement would have requirements related to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

The U.S. envoy also made sarcastic comments regarding the occupied Shebaa Farms, saying he thought they resembled a Kentucky horse farm and the most beautiful piece of land anyone has seen.

“What are they fighting over? I didn’t understand and I still don’t totally get it … This is a land of no value,” Asharq al-Awsat quoted Barrack as saying.