Washington, DC—June 3, 2026. The American Task Force on Lebanon welcomes President Trump’s leadership in helping halt Israel’s threatened attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs and preventing another major escalation in Lebanon.
This was an important and timely intervention. Lebanon has already suffered enormous loss of life, displacement, and destruction. President Trump’s action is intended to create space for the ongoing US-led talks between Lebanon and Israel to continue and for diplomacy to have a chance.
But this pause must not become a victory for Hezbollah.
The United States should use this moment to strengthen the Lebanese state. That means urgently supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces as they move to assert full state authority over Greater Beirut, including the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh.
Dahiyeh has long been a Hezbollah stronghold. If the current de-escalation simply leaves Hezbollah in control, then Iran and Hezbollah will benefit from a pause that should instead strengthen Lebanon’s legitimate institutions.
The LAF should take the lead in securing Greater Beirut, with strong U.S. and international advisory, technical, and intelligence support. This must be done in coordination with the Lebanese government. Restoring state authority over Greater Beirut is essential to Lebanese sovereignty and long-term stability.
A successful deployment would help prevent further destruction, allow residents to return safely to their neighborhoods, and demonstrate that the Lebanese state is capable of exercising authority throughout its capital.
President Trump’s intervention helped prevent immediate disaster. The next step is to turn that intervention into a strategic gain for Lebanon’s state institutions, not for Hezbollah.
ATFL urges the United States to press forward on both the diplomatic and military tracks now underway and to ensure that any ceasefire or de-escalation agreement strengthens the Lebanese Armed Forces, restores state authority, and advances the sovereignty of Lebanon.