Lebanon slams US envoy Tom Barrack over 'green light' to Israeli escalation

US envoy Thomas Barrack has sparked a political storm in Lebanon, with leaders across the spectrum condemning remarks they say give Israel a "green light" for further escalation.

In a 23-minute interview with the UAE-based news website The National, Barrack accused Beirut of "only talking" while Hezbollah "rebuilds" after last year's war, arguing the group had "zero" incentive to disarm under continued Israeli fire, and suggested the Lebanese army could be armed to confront "its own people".

"Who are they going to fight? We don't want to arm them so they can fight Israel. I don’t think so," Barrack said of the Lebanese army. He added that Israel would "take care of Hezbollah", a comment widely interpreted in Beirut as handing Tel Aviv a free hand to widely attack Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed surprise at Barrack's tone, saying the remarks had undermined both the government's credibility and the Lebanese army's role.

He reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to reforms, international resolutions and exclusive state control of weapons, while voicing confidence in the army's ability to defend the country's sovereignty.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected Barrack's portrayal of the government, army and Hezbollah as "unacceptable in form and substance", insisting the army remains Lebanon's guarantor of unity and sovereignty. He warned that Israeli aggression threatens the entire country, not just one faction.

Hezbollah echoed that view, with one of their lawmakers telling The New Arab that the US envoy's remarks were "nothing new" and aimed at pressuring both the government and the Iran-backed Lebanese group.

He accused Barrack of serving Israeli interests and effectively granting it pre-authorisation for further military action, while stressing Hezbollah's openness to dialogue, including with Saudi Arabia, but only on confronting Israel.

Government sources described Barrack's remarks as "very surprising", noting that he had previously acknowledged Lebanon's "constraints", including Israel's occupation of five positions and the army's need for support.

They told The New Arab said Beirut would continue pressing the international community to enforce the November 2024 ceasefire and to back the army's new mandate.

Barrack, a major Trump donor-turned diplomat, also said Israeli strikes had only strengthened Hezbollah's claim to be defending Lebanon, and warned that Israel would not withdraw from the five occupied hill positions in the south, describing peace in the region as "an illusion".

While he called the Lebanese Armed Forces "a good organisation", he argued it was under-equipped and reiterated that Washington would not arm it to fight Israel, only to counter Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials raised their concerns at the UN General Assembly in New York, including during talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where they urged Washington to press Israel to withdraw from occupied territory, release Lebanese detainees and halt attacks on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region.