Saudi, Qatar Plan Lebanon Economic Zone for Disarmed Hezbollah

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed readiness to invest in an economic zone in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border to create jobs for Hezbollah members and their supporters, contingent upon their disarmament, according to President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Tom Barrack. Barrack discussed Lebanon's government plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year during visits to Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, although Hezbollah's leader rejects the plan and vows to retain weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Israeli forces might withdraw from southern Lebanon following this decision. The U.S.-backed Lebanese army is preparing a Hezbollah disarmament plan expected to be discussed by the government in early September. Barrack emphasized the challenge of reintegrating approximately 40,000 Hezbollah members funded by Iran, highlighting the necessity of financial support from Gulf countries to provide sustainable livelihoods. He also alluded to ongoing but discreet U.S. diplomatic efforts involving Iran on this issue and expressed a preference for funding the Lebanese army over the UN peacekeeping force in the region.