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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Justin Salhani

Will a US-backed economic zone incentivise Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah?

Tom Barrack speaks at a press conference during which his comments angered gathered journalists at the Baabda Presidential Palace on August 26, 2025 [AFP]

The United States has floated a proposal for an economic zone in southern Lebanon in what analysts tell Al Jazeera is a far-fetched and poorly thought-out plan to incentivise the Lebanese government to push on with disarming Hezbollah.

The US envoy to the Middle East, Thomas Barrack, floated the economic zone during a visit to Lebanon on Tuesday but provided few details other than hints at financing.

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