United States sends $230 million to Lebanon in effort to disarm Hezbollah

(Patria) - The administration of U.S. Republican President Donald Trump approved this week $230 million for Lebanese security forces as they struggle to disarm Hezbollah, sources from Washington and Beirut said, Reuters reported.

A Lebanese source familiar with the decision said the funding includes $190 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces.

Democratic aides in the U.S. Congress said the funds were disbursed just before the end of Washington's fiscal year on September 30.

"For a small country like Lebanon, this is really, really significant," one of the aides said in a phone call with reporters, requesting anonymity to speak freely.

The funds were disbursed as the Trump administration is ending foreign aid programs, saying its priority in spending taxpayer money is America First.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam requested on August 5 that the U.S.-backed military devise a plan to ensure all weapons across the country are in the hands of security forces by the end of the year.
Hezbollah has rejected calls to disarm since the devastating war with Israel.

However, the Iran-backed group is under pressure to give up its weapons from its rivals in Lebanon and from Washington.