At a security summit in the United States in January 2026, senior leaders from the Lebanese Armed Forces updated U.S. military leadership about progress toward disarming nonstate actors and reinforcing national sovereignty.
The Lebanese government is working to disarm the Iranian-backed Hezbollah pursuant to the ceasefire agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel and brokered by the United States and France in November 2024.
When signing the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese government pledged to disarm Hezbollah, first in southern Lebanon and then in the rest of the country, by the end of 2025.
Recent polls show that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese support having the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the only armed entity in the country. However, Hezbollah has refused to disarm and, with assistance from the Iranian regime, is trying to rebuild its military capabilities.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji condemned Iran’s interference in his country’s national affairs.
“Iran’s role in Lebanon and the region is extremely negative, and its current policies constitute a major source
of instability in the region, particularly in Lebanon,” he said. “The Iranian leadership, at all levels, has never ceased attacking the Lebanese government and its efforts to disarm a nonstate armed group and asserting the state’s exclusive authority over decisions of war and peace. Iran has also continued to arm an armed group [Hezbollah] in Lebanon
that operates outside the control of the state.”
LAF leaders attended the January 2026 security summit at the invitation of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT).
In addition to the disarmament plan, the security summit also touched on dialogue associated with the Cessation of Hostilities Supervisory Committee, commonly referred to as the Mechanism.
Established in November 2024, the Mechanism is a multinational supervisory committee responsible for monitoring, verifying, and providing direct deconfliction between the LAF and the Israel Defense Forces.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Clearfield, MARCENT commander and chairman of the Mechanism, led discussions focused on military cooperation and the importance of the Mechanism.
“As MARCENT continues to play a central role in the Mechanism, these discussions with our partners will remain a critical part of our efforts,” Clearfield said. “We are committed to durable peace and stability in the region.”
The U.S. designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1997; the European Union designated Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group in 2013; and the United Kingdom proscribed the group in March 2019.