October 23, 2026
The United States resolved the controversy over the news regarding the existence of an American-Turkish proposal to reconsider the Lebanese political system, affirming its firm adherence to the Taif Agreement and the existing political structure. In this context, the US State Department officially denied the existence of any proposal to change the structure of the Lebanese political system, stressing its full commitment to working within a tripartite framework that brings together Lebanon and Israel.
US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigot explained in a statement on the “X” platform that the tripartite path aims to achieve three main goals: arms exclusivity and disarmament of Hezbollah, which Washington classifies as a banned organization, achieving long-term security for both Lebanon and Israel, and establishing peaceful relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Foreign Ministry also indicated that it welcomed the support of international partners to achieve these goals, without referring to any Turkish role or new joint initiative.
This position returns the Taif Agreement, signed in 1989 under Saudi sponsorship, to the forefront of political debate, as it is the constitutional basis for ending the civil war and establishing the principle of parity between Muslims and Christians, in addition to stipulating the dissolution of militias and the exclusive control of weapons in the hands of the state, a file that continues to raise sharp internal divisions and increasing international pressure.
These developments coincide with the diplomatic and security efforts that have been in place since the announcement of the cessation of hostilities agreement in November 2024, which stipulated the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south and the prevention of the presence of any unlicensed weapons, amid international follow-up through a mechanism that includes the United States, France, and UNIFIL forces. However, the latest American proposal expands the horizon of this path beyond stabilizing border calm towards more distant goals that touch on the essence of the military and political situation of Lebanon and Israel, without providing details about implementation mechanisms or timetables.
