U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Washington was awaiting Hezbollah’s decision on whether to surrender its weapons. Issa said the Lebanese state should be the sole authority responsible for the use of weapons and power.
Issa met Thursday with Sami Abi al-Mena, the spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Druze community, at a center belonging to the Druze community in Beirut’s Verdun district. The two sides discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as political and security developments.
The decision Washington is awaiting
Speaking after the meeting, Issa said Lebanese people shared the view that Hezbollah should surrender its weapons. However, he said there were differing approaches to how this step should be implemented.
“The single message is that Hezbollah should surrender its weapons and that authority should belong solely to the state,” Issa said. He added that placing sovereignty and defense authority in the hands of the state would enable Lebanon to communicate with other countries and request assistance.
Asked what step Washington would take if Hezbollah refused to give up its weapons, Issa replied: “We are waiting.” Issa said the United States had previously asked Hezbollah to declare that it was ready to surrender its weapons, arguing that such a declaration would make it easier to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory.
Issa said the United States had been asking Hezbollah for more than a year and a half to declare its readiness to surrender its weapons. He said Israel could then also be called on to withdraw, adding that Hezbollah’s refusal to give up its weapons was making the process more difficult for Washington.
Israel’s attacks in southern Lebanon
Issa said Washington was in contact with Israel over the ongoing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. Calling the attacks unacceptable, Issa said the United States was pressuring Israel to reduce them.
According to Lebanese authorities, 4,350 people have been killed, 12,307 wounded and more than 1 million displaced in Israeli attacks that have continued since March 2, 2026.
Some areas of southern Lebanon are under Israeli control. Part of these areas has been occupied for decades, while another part was occupied after the war of 2023-2024. Israel has expanded its advance into Lebanese territory as the attacks have continued.
Druze leader calls on international community
Sami Abi al-Mena said the Druze identity was firmly rooted in and strengthened by its Arab and Islamic origins. He said the Druze participate fully in national life and have contributed to building the state and social cohesion.
Abi al-Mena said the Druze community continued to play a unifying role and uphold an approach based on openness, dialogue and coexistence. He called on the international community, particularly the United States, to support Lebanon’s recovery and especially back the country’s demands for sovereignty.
Referring to developments in Syria’s southern Suwayda province, Abi al-Mena described them as a “planned and bloody project.” Warning against attempts to alter the Druze identity and the structure of the region, Abi al-Mena called for similar events not to be repeated and for the Druze not to once again pay the price of regional rivalries.
Abi al-Mena argued that Israel was pursuing a plan to establish control in southern Lebanon, expand its territory piecemeal and pursue expansion. He said peace could not be achieved by disregarding international resolutions, violating sovereignty and occupying land, airspace and waters.
Abi al-Mena said he hoped the United States would take a forceful and determined role in promoting stability and stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of the Lebanese army and security forces. He emphasized that the legitimate use of force should be held solely by the state and exercised within the framework of the country’s unity.
Clashes in Suwayda
Armed clashes broke out between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups in Suwayda in July 2025. Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in the clashes, after which the sides reached a ceasefire agreement.
Groups affiliated with Hikmat al-Hijri violated the ceasefire many times and attacked military positions, while the government complied with the agreement. The government facilitated the evacuation of those who wanted to leave and the entry of humanitarian aid into the region.
