Trump Approves $230 Million In Security Aid To Lebanon Amid Hezbollah Disarmament Push

The Trump administration has approved $230 million in assistance for Lebanon’s security forces as part of efforts to strengthen state institutions and reduce the influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, sources in Washington and Beirut confirmed this week.

According to a Lebanese source familiar with the decision, the package includes $190 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces (ISF). The funds were released just before the end of Washington’s fiscal year on September 30.

“For a small country like Lebanon, that’s really, really significant,” said a Democratic congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The move comes at a time when the Trump administration has cut back on many foreign aid programmes under its “America First” policy, making the decision to prioritise Lebanon notable. Officials suggested the release reflected Washington’s focus on stabilising the region amid the ongoing Gaza conflict and broader Middle East tensions.

A State Department spokesperson said US assistance supports Lebanese security institutions “”as they work to assert Lebanese sovereignty across the country and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the only viable framework for a durable security arrangement for both Lebanese and Israelis.”

Resolution 1701, passed in August 2006, formally ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel. But fighting over the past year between the two sides has left parts of Lebanon in ruins and further weakened Hezbollah’s standing.

In August, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the army to prepare a plan ensuring that all arms in the country would be placed under state control by the end of 2025. While Hezbollah has long resisted disarmament, pressure has mounted both domestically and internationally for the group to relinquish its arsenal.

The Lebanese source added that the latest US funding would enable the ISF to assume greater responsibility for internal security, allowing the LAF to focus on broader national defence and strategic missions.

The decision underscores Washington’s ongoing commitment to Lebanon’s fragile stability, even as the country grapples with economic hardship, political division, and the challenge of curbing Hezbollah’s military power.

Melissa Enoch

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