Report: US gives Lebanon several-week 'grace period'

Lebanon has been given a “grace period” for the near future regarding the removal of Hezbollah’s weapons, informed diplomatic sources said.

“The United States has shown a tacit understanding and has granted the Lebanese government a several-week grace period before beginning to hold it accountable regarding the launch of the second phase of the arms monopolization process,” the sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Monday.

“The international forces, topped by Washington, are currently preoccupied with the event in Tehran and are studying the next steps there, especially as to the regime’s future,” the sources said.

“That’s why it (the U.S.) is pressing Israel to hold back from any expansionist or escalatory military operations in Lebanon or in any other arena, pending a clearer picture of what’s happening in Iran. This has allowed the Lebanese government to delay the launch of the second phase and take more time to resolve the deep obstacles that are hindering it, while Israel is continuing its daily war, which it occasionally escalates as it did yesterday. However, an all-out war is not allowed before settling the Iranian file,” the sources added.

Political sources meanwhile told the daily that Israel escalated its attacks north of the Litani River after the Lebanese Army completed the plan’s first phase south of the Litani in a bid to militarily press the Lebanese state and Hezbollah to also remove arms from the North Litani region.

The Lebanese Army announced Thursday that it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah -- in the area south of the Litani River, near Israel’s border. Israel called Lebanon’s efforts an “encouraging beginning” but noted they are “far from sufficient” and has since intensified its strikes north of the Litani River.

Under U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming the Iran-backed group, which was weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel including two months of all-out war that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire.

Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic, accusing the group of rearming.