March 5, 2026, Washington, DC—The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) condemns the escalating military campaign unfolding across Lebanon, which is inflicting widespread destruction, mass displacement, and immense suffering of innocent civilian populations. What began as an already dangerous escalation now risks spiraling into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel has signaled that it will expand its bombing of Lebanon. Continuing large-scale operations that devastate civilian areas and infrastructure will not bring lasting security and will undermine any prospect for peace. The destruction of Lebanon will not produce stability for Israel, nor bring peace. The current trajectory has gone too far and must stop.
The scale of displacement is already reaching alarming proportions. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians are being forced from their homes, raising the real risk that displacement reaches half a million people if hostilities continue. Such an outcome would constitute a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions and risks creating a crisis on a scale not seen in Lebanon in decades. Immediate humanitarian access and assistance are essential, and the international community must mobilize rapidly to support affected populations.
At the same time, Hezbollah bears direct responsibility for triggering this latest escalation. By unilaterally entering the confrontation and exposing Lebanon to the consequences of a regional conflict, Hezbollah once again placed the country and its people in grave danger. No non-state actor has the right to decide matters of war and peace on behalf of Lebanon.
The Lebanese government must now demonstrate clear resolve. Its recent decision to ban Hezbollah’s military activities was an important assertion of state authority, but words must be followed by action. The government, together with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), must take concrete steps to enforce this decision and advance the long-overdue objective of restoring the state’s monopoly on arms. It is important to recognize that the goal of disarming Hezbollah is widely shared—by all parties, Lebanon, Israel, the United States and international community. The LAF has shown its will to disarm south of the Litani River, but the current pace of disarmament is not meeting the expectations of the parties. Neither will the destruction of Lebanon through unilateral military escalation produce the outcome desired by the parties involved.
Instead, the United States and international partners should work directly with the Lebanese Armed Forces to double down on the political, operational, and logistical support required to enable the LAF to carry out this mission as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon’s sovereignty. Accordingly, the United States, working through US Central Command (CENTCOM), should urgently conduct a comprehensive assessment with the LAF to determine what capabilities, resources, and operational support are required to enable the LAF to carry out disarmament and secure Lebanon’s borders urgently. This assessment—with the US’ imprimatur and support—should guide an accelerated effort to provide the tools, training, and intelligence necessary for the LAF to fulfill its mandate as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The current moment also underscores the importance of engaging directly with Lebanon’s Shi’a community, who have borne a disproportionate share of the destruction and displacement caused by the conflict. These communities must not be treated as collateral victims of regional confrontation. They are an integral part of Lebanon’s national fabric and must be central to any effort aimed at restoring state authority, rebuilding affected areas, and ensuring long-term stability. Priority humanitarian and recovery support must be given to those Lebanese citizens most affected from the war.
Above all, the United States must turbocharge efforts to bring the parties to the negotiating table. Military escalation and the devastation of Lebanon will not resolve the underlying conflict. Washington should use its leadership to reinvigorate the existing deconfliction and negotiation mechanisms, press all parties toward serious talks, and work to establish a framework that halts the current escalation and creates a pathway toward long-term stability and security for both Lebanon and Israel.
ATFL calls for an immediate halt to the escalation, a US assessment and implementation of LAF requirements, urgent humanitarian access to assist displaced civilians, and the rapid resumption of negotiations to prevent Lebanon from descending into an even deeper and more devastating conflict.