Ambassador Issa warns Lebanon: Disarm Hezbollah now or face Israel’s unstoppable right to self-defense.
America’s newly appointed ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, delivered a blunt and unprecedented message to Beirut, declaring that Israel requires no American permission to defend itself against Hezbollah or any other Iranian-backed threat.
“Israel independently evaluates its security needs and will take whatever actions it deems necessary to protect its citizens,” Issa told Haaretz in a forthright interview that quickly rippled through diplomatic circles.
Issa stressed that Washington is in continuous dialogue with the Lebanese government and is demanding that Beirut finally enforce its own historic commitment to disarm Hezbollah — a core obligation Lebanon has ignored for decades.
According to Issa, restoring Lebanese sovereignty begins with confronting Iran’s armed proxy.
“Disarming Hezbollah and ending Iran’s regional proxy activities are essential steps toward peace for Lebanon and beyond.”
The interview arrives amid high tensions, one year into a fragile US- and French-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Jerusalem has repeatedly accused Lebanon of violating the agreement by allowing Hezbollah to rebuild military infrastructure, fortify positions near the border, and expand its arsenal in blatant defiance of the truce.
Israel has responded forcefully in recent weeks. Most notably, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in a surgical strike deep inside Beirut — a devastating blow to the terror group’s leadership.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, raged on Friday, calling the killing “a heinous crime” and vowing retaliation. “We will respond — our timing, our decision,” he threatened in a televised speech.
Issa, who assumed office just two weeks ago and now doubles as acting US Special Envoy to the region, replacing Tom Barrack, outlined Washington’s priorities clearly:
✔ Achieving durable peace between Israel and Lebanon
✔ Supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty against Iran’s interference
✔ Pushing for the complete disarmament of Hezbollah
✔ Strengthening US-Lebanon commercial ties to rebuild the shattered Lebanese economy
His message was unmistakable:
Lebanon must choose—sovereignty and peace, or continued subservience to Iran’s terrorist militia.
