New York Times: Lebanon faces US aid cuts and possible Israeli offensive without decisive Hezbollah disarmament plan

The New York Times warned in a report that Lebanon’s leaders are running out of time to disarm Hezbollah before risking the loss of U.S. and Gulf financial support — or even the prospect of a renewed Israeli military campaign.

According to the paper, the U.S. warning came ahead of a critical cabinet meeting in Beirut on Friday, described by American officials as a “turning point” in Lebanon’s history, as ministers prepare to discuss a plan that would, for the first time in decades, compel Hezbollah to surrender its weapons.

The New York Times said Washington, Israel, and Gulf states are pressuring the Lebanese government to take a firm stance and not be deterred by Hezbollah’s threats of violence. 

The plan drawn up by the army is set to be debated Friday, in what the Trump administration views as a ‘crucial test of Lebanon’s political will.’

American officials told the paper that inaction or half measures could push Congress to cut the roughly $150 million in annual U.S. aid to the Lebanese army. 

Although President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal did not include a request to renew that aid, officials and experts suggested that a credible disarmament plan could unlock significant funding for equipment and salaries.

The Times also cited a senior Saudi official involved in diplomatic efforts, who argued that Hezbollah is unlikely to respond with large-scale violence to attempts to strip it of its weapons.

It added that Morgan Ortagus will return to Beirut this week to attend a meeting of international officials reviewing the ceasefire that ended Israel’s military campaign in southern Lebanon in late 2024.