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Memri
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
U.S. Softens Its Position On Hizbullah And Its Weapons; Special Envoy Thomas Barrack: Hizbullah Is 'A Political Party,' It Will Hand Over Only Its Heavy Weapons, And Only Over Time
In the past few months, there has been a significant shift in the U.S. administration towards a softer position vis-à-vis Lebanon and also vis-à-vis Hizbullah and its weapons. This is evident in both tone and essence. This change was reflected in the appointment of Thomas Barrack, an American businessman of Lebanese origin and the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, to oversee the Lebanon portfolio. He replaces Morgan Ortagus, who was known for her hawkish approach to Hizbullah.[1] Barrack's softer tone regarding the Lebanese government, and the essence of his statements, surprised many in Lebanon and abroad, who had expected him to continue in Ortagus' footsteps and strongly pressure the Lebanese state to disarm Hizbullah. However, Barrack effectively recognized Hizbullah as a political party that should not be ignored, differentiating between this and the organization's "military wing." Moreover, he avoided indicating whether the U.S. would remove Hizbullah from the list of terrorist organizations if it disarmed its military wing and focused on its political activity. The U.S. has already done this for Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the jihadi terrorist organization that took over Syria in December 2024 and is headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani. Barrack also framed Hizbullah's disarmament as a domestic Lebanese issue that would have to be with Hizbullah's consent and not imposed by force, making clear that the U.S. has no intention of interfering in the matter. Furthermore, he in effect recognized Hizbullah's right to continue to possess arms by calling for it to give up only its heavy weapons, and even this only gradually, as Israel withdraws from the territory it occupied in southern Lebanon and carries out other steps. The positions expressed by Barrack are in contrast with the traditional positions of the U.S., which does not distinguish between Hizbullah's so-called "political wing" and "military wing," but rather defines the entire organization as terrorist.[2] In addition, the U.S. has to date insisted that Hizbullah disarm completely across all of Lebanon, in accordance with the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024, which is, as is known, guaranteed by the U.S. and France. It should be noted that the early signs of this shift were apparent during the tenure of Ms. Ortagus. Although she vetoed Hizbullah's participation in the new Lebanese government, calling it "a red line," the U.S. embassy in Beirut welcomed the new government under Nawaf Salam, which preserves Hizbullah's representation in that it includes two ministers from this organization.[3] This report will present recent statements by U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack on the topic of Hizbullah's disarmament. U.S. Special Envoy Barrack: Hizbullah – A Political Party That Has A Future In The Country "Hizbullah is a political party. It also has a militant aspect. Hizbullah needs to see that there's a future for them, that that road is not harnessed just so we're against them and that there's an intersection of peace and prosperity for them also…"[4] This surprising declaration – which completely contradicts the U.S. position that defines Hizbullah as a terrorist organization without any distinction between its military and political wings – was made by none other than Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Special Envoy to Syria, and diplomat in charge of the Lebanon portfolio, at a press conference he convened in Beirut on July 7, 2025, following a meeting he had with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Asked how the U.S. intended to respond if Hizbullah refuses to turn over its weapons to the Lebanese government, Barrack said: "The good news for the U.S. is we don't intend to deal with it. We intend for you to deal with it, so this is not a situation of the United States coming in and saying let us tell you we want a regime change, let us tell you we're unhappy with one of your largest political parties… What we're doing is saying, you want change, you change it and we'll be there to support you. If you don't want change it's no problem. The rest of the region is moving at Mach speed and you will be left behind, sadly, you will be left behind." Posing a rhetorical question to the journalists at the press conference, Barrack asked: "Is Hizbullah a political party in Lebanon?", and added: "… So why do you think America or France or Great Britain are going to come in and resolve a political party in a sovereign country? That's not going to happen. It's your problem. You figure it out…"[5] Thomas Barrack, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey (Source: July 8, 2025) The significance of the remarks by U.S. Envoy Barrack is that he recognizes Hizbullah as a legitimate political party in Lebanon that has a future in the country. At a press conference he convened in New York on July 11, he reiterated the distinction between Hizbullah's military and political wings. Although he clarified that the U.S. sees Hizbullah as a terrorist organization, he stressed that, from a Lebanese perspective, Hizbullah has a political wing. He said, "And I got in trouble the other day because I said Hizbullah has two parts. First of all, certainly America looks at it as a terrorist organization. So Hizbullah, terrorist organization, same sentence – I'm saying it. That's what it is. However, in Lebanon, it's a political party. So, in Lebanon you have 13 to 15 parliamentary participants. That's Hizbullah the political party, one of the parties that represents the Shias along with the Amal party. And you have Hizbullah the militant group, which we think is backed by Iran, which is the foreign terrorist organization, which we have issues with. The process of Hizbullah putting their arms down starts with the Lebanese government process. They have to – and the council of ministers – have to authorize that mandate and that act, and Hizballah itself, the political party, has to agree to that…"[6] Barrack: "I Can't Answer" Whether The U.S. Will Remove Hizbullah From Its Terror List Furthermore, Barrack did not rule out the possibility that the U.S. would remove Hizbullah from its terror list if it decided to disarm and become a regular Lebanese political party – which the U.S. administration has already done for Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham that today rules Syria. Asked at a press conference about this, Barrack replied, "It's a great question, and I'm not running from the answer, but I can't answer it."[7] Barrack: Hizbullah Will Hand Over Only Its Heavy Arms, And Consensually Along with accepting Hizbullah as a legitimate political element, Barrack drew back from the U.S. position in the matter of disarming Hizbullah. In the past few months, the U.S. has been strongly pressuring the Lebanese government to disarm Hizbullah across the country, in accordance with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement that came into effect on November 27, 2024. But it is clear that this position has also changed somewhat since Barrack was placed in charge of the Lebanon portfolio. During his first official Lebanon visit, on June 19, 2025, Barrack handed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun a document that, according to reports in the Lebanese and Arab media, included a road map for Lebanon's future. Along with demands for economic reform and normalization with Syria, it also included a demand for Hizbullah's disarmament throughout the country.[8] At a July 11 press conference in New York, Barrack clarified that Hizbullah must consent to its disarmament – that is, the process must be coordinated with it and approved by it, not imposed on it. He said, "The process of Hizbullah putting their arms down starts with the Lebanese government process. They have to – and the council of ministers – have to authorize that mandate, and that act, and Hizbullah itself, the political party, has to agree to that."[9] Also at the July 11 press conference, he underlined the demand that Hizullah hand over only its heavy weapons and not its light weapons, noting that the organization must agree "over a time period to forego its major weapons, right – everybody in Lebanon is packing a 357 Magnum. I mean, it's like having a belt. So we're not talking about small arms. We're talking about the weapons that could affect Israel."[10] These statements are in line also with a report published by the Lebanese daily Al-Mudun in early July, which said that according to the road map presented by Barrack to the Lebanese government, Hizbullah must lay down its heavy weapons – missiles and drones – as Israel withdraws from the areas in southern Lebanon that it controls.[11] This too is a withdrawal from the U.S. position, which up until now has called on the Lebanese government to completely disarm Hizbullah across Lebanon, without connection to an Israeli withdrawal. Hizbullah: We Make No Distinction Between A Political And A Military Wing; We Are One Organization With One Leadership It should be noted that, contrary to the remarks made by U.S. Envoy Barrack, Hizbullah itself denies that there is any distinction between its political and its military wings. In an interview with the Lebanese Al-Nahar daily that was published on July 11, 2025, Ihab Hamadeh, a Hizbullah MP, said: "Hizbullah does not have two wings. It is one organization with one leadership."[12] Similarly, in June 2013, about a month before the EU decision to add Hizbullah's military wing to the list of terrorist organizations, Na'im Qassem, who is currently Hizbullah's secretary-general, mocked the distinction between the organization's military and political wings, saying: "We do not have a military arm and another [arm] that is political. These Europeans are making themselves ridiculous… They are manipulating their own peoples [by saying] that they are conducting a dialogue with [Hizbullah's] politicians rather than with members of [its] military [arm]. They have forgotten that for us, every child is both a military man and a politician."[13]
Memri
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
The Local Media Of Dearborn, Michigan Openly Mourns Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah And His Successor Hashem Safieddine In Its Extensive, Laudatory Coverage Of Their Funeral – Reflecting Dearborn's Longstanding Outspoken Support For The Designated Terror Group
Local media outlets of Dearborn, Michigan published extensive coverage of the February 23rd, 2025 Beirut funeral procession and memorial ceremony for Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of the Designated Terror Organization Lebanese Hizbullah. and of his successor, Hashem Safieddine. The men were killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. The and the Arabic-language site shared articles and videos. Dearborn, the jihad capital of America, has a long history of public support Hizbullah, an Iranian proxy militia, regularly mourning its slain fighters and referring to them as "martyrs." These very public memorials and commemorations are regularly covered by a local news outlet which publishes articles photos, graphics, and videos about funerals for these "martyrs" in southern Lebanon and about memorial services that are held for them in Dearborn. Local media often ignores and covers up extremist Islamist statements and use of terror symbols by Dearborn activists. Dearborn also marks International Al-Quds [Jerusalem] Day, established by the father of Iran's Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1979, in annual public events over the past 15 years, which entail calls for Israel's annihilation, espousing antisemitic conspiracy theories, and chants of "Death to America." In November 2023 Dearborn held a rally celebrating Hamas for its October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians. The reactions to coverage of the funeral highlights the emotional impact of the terror leaders' deaths on the Shi'a community in Dearborn. The local outlets serve as news hubs connecting the Shi'a-Muslim community in Dearborn with their relatives in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon. The media outlets frequently publish statements and developments related to Hizbullah, the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), and Hamas – the groups it often labels as "the resistance." and also routinely publish articles and videos featuring funeral processions and memorial services for slain Hizbullah fighters, particularly in Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon, as well as at Cultural Centers in Dearborn. Michigan Imam Hassan Qazwini In Dearborn Heights Friday Sermon: The Martyrdom Of Hizbullah Leader Nasrallah Is Fuel For The Resistance Against Tyrannical Israel; We Are Not Defeated; Thousands Will Join The Fight And Victory Will Follow Imam Hassan Qazwini said in his February 21, 2025 Friday sermon at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, Michigan that Israel has eliminated the life of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, but it could not and cannot eliminate his spirit, his message, or his goal. He asserted that the assassination of Nasrallah will, in fact, turn into fuel for the resistance against Israel, which he called "this tyrannical enemy." Qazwini warned his listeners, in Michigan and in Lebanon, against thinking that they have been broken or defeated, adding: "Victory will follow." Qazwini, an Iraqi-born Shi'ite Islamic scholar is an imam of the Islamic Institute of America, which held a memorial for Nasrallah on September 29, 2024. Hassan Qazwini is an active supporter of Michigan Democratic politicians, who often appear in fundraisers for the Islamic center (See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11330 Michigan Imam Hassan Qazwini – An Active Supporter Of Michigan Democratic Politicians – Has Claimed That ISIS Is Arm Of Zionism, Praised Houthis, And Endorsed Bernie Sanders 'Even Though He Is A Jew'; He Says: 'If There Were Justice In This Country,' Members Of Congress Who Voted For House Antisemitism Awareness Bill 'Would Be Indicted And Convicted of Treason' – They Do Not Represent The American People And Are Israel's Stooges). In March 2024 guests at the annual fundraiser for the Islamic Institute of America included Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Dearborn Mayor Abdallah Hamoud, while in 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer was a guest speaker. To view the clip, click here. Coverage Of Preparations For Nasrallah And Safieddine's Funeral Procession On February 21, 2025, the Dearborn Area Community Members page announced on Facebook that Lebanon was preparing for the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah. The funeral announcement post received more than 500 reactions and nearly 300 comments from the Dearborn community. Statements such as: "May your souls rest in peace" and "They will live forever in our hearts," were common. Others glorified Nasrallah's role as a militant leader, framing him as a martyr and hero. One comment read: "The earth has lost you, our dear master, and the sky has gained you along with your grandfather Imam Hussein." Another read: "Resistant mujahid leader, our eyes are crying over your departure." [1] The Facebook post by "Dearborn Area Community Members" featured a picture of Nasrallah and Safieddine smiling together on a large banner in Lebanon. [2] Comments online highlighted the emotional impact of their passing on the Shi'a community in Dearborn. On February 22, reported that a group of Tunisians was reported to be en route to Beirut, via Turkey, to attend the funeral. [3] That same day, reported on a large funeral procession for Hizbullah fighters taking place in Ainata, Lebanon. [4] The outlet later also reported on large crowds that were gathering late into the night in Beirut to attend Nasrallah's funeral. [5] highlights the mobilization of Hizbullah supporters in different cities within Lebanon, as well as the transnational reach of Hizbullah's influence and its ability to attract sympathizers from beyond Lebanon's borders. [6] Similarly, posted an article on Facebook and on its own website reporting on the atmosphere around the airport road in Beirut before the funeral commemorations. [7] article reporting on the atmosphere of the airport road in Beirut before Nasrallah's and Safieddine's funeral commemorations. [8] Then and posted a series of reels showcasing the crowds making their way into the city. [9] Coverage Of The Day Of The Funeral On February 23, 2025, the Dearborn Area Community Members page on Facebook reposted a video from Hizbullah's al-Manar TV channel featuring large crowds attending the funeral in Beirut. A song played in the background whose lyrics were: " We are the winners of martyrdom. " The post reported that an estimated 1.4 million people were participating in the funeral proceedings. [10] provided extensive footage of the funeral, recording an eight-hour live broadcast from Beirut's Sports City Stadium, where the ceremony took place. [11] The post received dozens of comments, many of which thanked Nasrallah for his " leadership, love, and service. " An eight-hour live broadcast of Nasrallah's funeral was uploaded by In the comments section, one user wrote: " Oh Allah, accept from us the most precious thing we own, the most precious thing that we adore and love, our master and beloved. " aired the same eight-hour live broadcast of the funeral. [12] During its live coverage, also announced to the community the beginning of Sheikh Naim Qassem's speech commemorating the two martyrs. [13] In a separate post, it provided excerpts of the address, where the new Secretary-General of Hizbullah expressed condolences to the families of Nasrallah and Safieddine, praised the resilience of Hizbullah's supporters and reaffirmed the group's commitment to its confrontational stance and militant agenda against Israel. [14] reported that an estimated 1.4 million people participated in the funeral procession, stressing Hizbullah's ability to mobilize supporters. [15] Another joint post by the two organizations featured a video showcasing the large crowds on Qassem Soleimani's street who had gathered to pay their respects. [16] Later, and again shared a video, showing the Nasrallah's coffin beginning its journey to the burial site. The video was captioned, "The moment the blessed coffin of the nation's martyr, Seyyed Nasr0llah [sic], began to be transported to be buried." [17] Prominent Shi'a clerics in the Dearborn community also expressed their condolences to their followers on Facebook. Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, from the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, described the funeral as an "indescribable day" in Lebanon's history, and "A day of victory for morality, truth, justice, and humanity." Blending sorrow with celebration, Elahi emphasized on the international attention the event received, and how people had reported feeling the presence of "Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Ali and Hussein" during the event. Elahi further noted how for the people of Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine "were not merely political leaders but sacred figures—deeply rooted in the nation's soul, emotions, intellect, and history of struggle and resistance." Lastly, he explained this was the reason why many among the 1.4 million attendees "sought to touch the caskets of the martyrs, desperate to receive a final blessing." [18] In turn, the Shi'a Islamic institute "Light of Guidance," led by Sheikh Usama Abdulghani, shared a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, honoring the martyrs and reaffirming the commitment of the resistance to its goals. [19] Other well-known figures from the Dearborn community also provided platforms for the Shi'a community in Dearborn to express similar sentiments. For instance, when Dearborn-based journalist Osama Siblani posted a picture of the stadium where Nasrallah's funeral ceremony was held, many individuals commented in support, wishing Nasrallah to be welcomed in the highest level of Paradise (al-Firdaus), calling him a "Father" to the Lebanese, and congratulating him for paving the way for many leaders like him to rise. [20] Coverage Of The Aftermath Of The Funeral The funeral proceedings continued on February 24, with both and sharing a video of the funeral procession of Hashem Safieddine arriving at his hometown of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, highlighting the continued mobilization of Hizbullah supporters. [21] Both and also posted a one-hour special coverage of Safieddine's funeral at Deir Qanoun, describing it as "majestic," and highlighting the participation of both national and Hizbullah delegations. [22] Later, both and also covered the moment when the body of Hashem Safieddine arrived at the Husseiniya of Deir Qanoun. [23] The two outlets also posted photos of mourners gathered in front of Nasrallah's shrine. [24] Finally, on February 25, published an article reporting on the gathering that was held in New York City to commemorate the assassination of Nasrallah and Safieddine. The article described approximately 150 anti-Israel protesters in Washington Square Park in lower Manhattan, attending a vigil commemorating the assassination of the former Hizbullah Secretary-Generals. The reporting highlighted how, during the event, participants had raised photos of the martyrs along with the Hizbullah flag. [25] [1] February 21, 2025. [2] February 21, 2025. [3] February 22, 2025. [4] February 22, 2025. [5] February 22, 2025. [6] February 22, 2025 February 22, 2025; February 22, 2025. [7] February 22, 2025. February 22, 2024. [8] February 22, 2024. [9] February 22, 2025. February 22, 2025. February 22, 2025. [10] February 23, 2025. [11] February 23, 2025. [12] February 23, 2025. [13] February 23, 2025. [14] February 23, 2025. [15] February 23, 2025. [16] February 23, 2025. [17] February 23, 2025. [18] February 23, 2025. [19] February 23, 2025. [20] February 23, 2025. [21] February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. [22] February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. [23] February 24, 2025. [24] February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. February 24, 2025. [25] February 25, 2025.
