US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Wednesday evening that the United States will assist Lebanon in 'taking control' of its territory in order to operate against Hezbollah. The statement follows months of Israeli and US pressure on the Lebanese state to rein in the Iran-backed militia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday evening that the United States will help Lebanon 'take control' of its territory to enable operations against Hezbollah. The statement, reported by Amichai Stein (i24NEWS), was first carried at 19:15 Jerusalem. Rubio did not specify what form US assistance would take but referred broadly to enabling Lebanese forces to 'take control' of the territory, suggesting the US may expand support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) or intelligence-sharing.
Earlier Wednesday at 19:15 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Rubio stating that talks between Israel and Lebanon are ongoing and include discussion of a gradual handover of control in certain areas to Lebanese authorities. He added that Israel has conveyed to the US that had Hezbollah not operated in the area, Israeli forces would not be in Lebanon. The initial report — Rubio's pledge of US assistance for Lebanon to take control of its territory — was the first version published at the same timestamp. Across both versions, the source has been consistent: Rubio's remarks, relayed via one Israeli news outlet (i24NEWS/Amichai Stein), with no on-record confirmation from the State Department or Lebanese officials.
As The Zioneer has reported, the IDF has assessed that Lebanese state authority in the south remains limited, and Hezbollah retains significant operational capability despite battlefield losses. The US statements follow months of Israeli and American pressure on Beirut to curb Hezbollah's military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
What remains open: No specific timeline, mechanism, or scope of US assistance has been detailed. The gradual handover plan's parameters — which areas, under what conditions — have not been publicly outlined by US, Israeli, or Lebanese officials. No official Lebanese response has been cited.
2 developments
- DevelopingRubio: Israeli forces in Lebanon only because of Hezbollah activity, rocket fire
- DevelopingRubio, Lebanese President Aoun discuss Hezbollah disarmament and ceasefire with Israel
- DevelopingPompeo warns: Iran conditions deal on Israel stopping Lebanon operation
- StrongRubio says Lebanon diplomacy separate from Iran talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake