US Courtship: Lebanon's Army Chief to Washington D.C.
📰 THE STORY: Al-Monitor reports that Lebanon's army chief will visit the US to secure international and regional support to 'boost its capabilities' and enable it to continue 'clearing the areas in southern Lebanon as part of a disarmament plan.' The visit is presented as essential for Lebanon's stability amidst various crises. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The 'disarmament
plan' for southern Lebanon, specifically targeting Hezbollah, is a long-standing Israeli-US demand. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, killing an estimated 20,000, ostensibly to create a 'security zone' and root out Palestinian and Lebanese resistance, leading to the Sabra and Shatila massacre. The US has continuously backed Israeli aggression, including the 2006 war where Israel launched massive
attacks against Lebanon, explicitly targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Double Standard: The US frames calls for Hezbollah's disarmament as a necessity for 'Lebanese sovereignty,' yet it funds and arms the IDF, the most heavily militarized force in the region, which routinely violates Lebanese airspace and territory. Washington sanctions Lebanon for 'corruption' while turning a blind eye to its
own allies' deep-seated graft and Israeli war crimes, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where 40,000+ Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Follow the Money: US funding to the Lebanese army, which averages over $100 million annually, is conditioned on its cooperation with US foreign policy objectives, primarily containment of Iranian influence and confrontation with Hezbollah.