The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) concluded a senior-level delegation visit to Qatar and Lebanon from December 6-11, 2025. The trip combined participation in the Doha Forum with individual consultations with senior Qatari officials, and three days of high-level engagements in Lebanon. The delegation included members of the ATFL Expert Advisory Council, comprised of former US ambassadors, policy experts, and representatives from leading American think tanks.
In Doha, the delegation discussed US and regional priorities toward Lebanon, emphasizing the need to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), enhance coordination and support among Gulf partners, and encourage targeted investments that reinforce stability and immediate economic recovery. Conversations explored conduits specifically for partners’ strong role in humanitarian support, southern development initiatives, and diplomatic de-escalation.
In Beirut, the delegation met with US Ambassador Michel Issa, the embassy team, and US Head of the Monitoring Mechanism Lieutenant General Joseph Clearfield, as well as President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, in addition to key ministers, party leaders across the political spectrum, independent and reformist MPs, the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and civil society representatives. The delegation also met with the Saudi and French Ambassadors to Lebanon. These discussions provided an assessment of Lebanon’s progress in the context of a looming deadline for Hezbollah’s disarmament from the area south of the Litani river, and remaining challenges on sovereignty, security, and reform.
The delegation focused on:
- Continued implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire framework, including obligations of the parties on disarmament, territorial withdrawals, border stabilization and demarcation, and the expansion of LAF authority throughout Lebanon. The delegation learned about the LAF’s near completion of Phase 1 of deployment and operational control of the full area south of the Litani River.
- Expanded talks between Lebanon and Israel, now with senior diplomatic representation–a critical track for deescalating conflict and consolidating a sustainable and secure cross border arrangement.
- Near-term risks of Israeli and regional escalation, and the role the US-led Mechanism can play to avoid major escalation.
- Strengthening of national institutions, recognizing that the LAF remains the country’s most trusted and capable guarantor of sovereignty and security.
- Economic and governance reforms required to unlock international support, address banking sector collapse, and restore public and international confidence.
- Preparations for the 2026 parliamentary elections, including prospects for diaspora participation.
Across meetings, several consistent themes emerged:
- The urgent need, especially in view of rapidly changing dynamics in Lebanon’s neighborhood, to ensure the state’s full authority over decisions of war and peace and maintain momentum on disarmament measures that reinforce Lebanese sovereignty. The LAF’s progress south of the Litani was encouraging notwithstanding recognition of the urgent need to complete disarmament throughout the country.
- Importance of political parties putting their differences aside to implement urgently Lebanon’s commitments under the ceasefire and finalize long-pending economic reforms.
- Broad consensus that international confidence hinges on measurable reforms, transparency in aid delivery, and credible progress toward economic stabilization,
- Recognition that reviving the formal economy and restoring a functioning banking system are integral to achieving security objectives.
- Recognition that southern civilian communities require immediate relief, including small-scale, high-impact development projects that can build confidence and reduce apprehensions. Any assistance for development and stabilization projects in the south should be channeled through and supervised by the ministry of social affairs, ensuring clear lines of accountability and transparency.
- While full-scale reconstruction of the south will require completion of disarmament objectives, planning for it should begin in anticipation of final disarmament completion.
- A shared understanding that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are essential in implementing all steps of the ceasefire arrangement and progress moving forward.
- Acknowledgement that continued, coordinated action especially among the US, Saudi, Arabia, France, Qatar and Egypt is essential to enhance security and reform objectives.
These key takeaways reaffirm ATFL’s long-standing position that Lebanon’s stability and peaceful relations with its neighbors depend on a strong state, empowered national institutions, and sustained international partnership under US leadership. The United States and regional actors have a critical role to play in supporting the LAF, reinforcing sovereign decision-making, helping push for timely and necessary economic reforms, and ensuring that all parties meet their commitments under the ceasefire arrangement.
ATFL and its partners remain committed to working with Lebanese and international partners to promote peace, accountability, and a path toward long-term recovery for the Lebanese people.