Category: Statement

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) welcomes with deep gratitude the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon, a journey that embodies hope, solidarity, and the enduring value of peaceful coexistence in a country scarred by conflict and political and economic crisis.

Pope Leo’s arrival at this critical moment, as the risk of dangerous escalation along the southern border grows, sends a powerful moral message to Lebanon’s leaders, its citizens, and the international community that peace is a national priority.

We particularly welcome his calls for reconciliation, truth-seeking, and a national renewal rooted in dignity, justice, and hope for the country’s youth. His emphasis on enabling young Lebanese (including women) to stay, build their lives at home, and contribute to Lebanon’s future coincides with it’s vision of a sovereign, stable, and prosperous Lebanon at peace with its neighbors. 

“The Pope’s visit is also a timely reminder that the United States and international community have a critical role to play in advancing this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Ambassador Ed Gabriel, ATFL President. “We urge the international community to heed the Pope’s message by supporting Lebanon not only with humanitarian assistance, but through sustained diplomatic engagement, strategic investment, and firm encouragement of long overdue reforms and accountable governance.”

May Pope Leo’s visit mark a turning point towards national renewal, social cohesion, and a future rooted dignity and freedom for all Lebanese.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is deeply concerned by recent calls for the United States to reconsider its support of Lebanon at a critical moment in the country’s political and security trajectory. Over the past year, American diplomacy has played an essential role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, facilitating the election of a new president, and supporting the formation of a technocratic government committed to the full disarmament of Hezbollah and the country’s economic recovery.  

The Lebanese Army: The Guarantor of Lebanon’s Sovereignty

ATFL is particularly alarmed by proposals to reconsider or suspend US assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Lebanon’s national army and the only institution capable of upholding the state’s authority. Such a step would be strategically shortsighted, destabilizing, and contrary to long-standing American interests in the region.

The LAF remains the United States’ most effective partner in Lebanon—an institution critical to securing borders, countering militias, implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and supporting the government’s long-term efforts to reestablish the state’s monopoly over the use of force.

The United States has invested for nearly two decades in building the LAF into the only legitimate, national security institution with the credibility, discipline, and public trust to uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty. It remains the single most important counterweight to the spread of militias, lawlessness, and foreign interference. Abandoning this investment just as the LAF is undertaking its most serious effort in years to reclaim state authority would undermine US regional security interests and jeopardize prospects for peace with Lebanon’s neighbors.

We are clear-eyed about the obstacles. Lebanese authorities are not moving as decisively or as quickly as the United States and others expect, and both the government and the LAF must be more transparent about how they intend to reestablish state authority across all Lebanese territory. But it is equally true that, south of the Litani River, the LAF is making tangible progress in implementing a phased plan to enforce Resolution 1701, curb illegal weapons, and restrict Hezbollah’s operational space. According to army sources, roughly 90% of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and outposts in the south have already been dismantled. This approach must now be extended to the rest of the country—and the LAF should articulate how it intends to get there. For its part, US Central Command or the US Monitoring Mechanism should regularly communicate the progress being made and provide clear public benchmarks, including when the Litani sector and other zones have met the disarmament requirements of the ceasefire agreement.

However, the LAF cannot do this alone. Without the continued support of the United States and its allies, this effort will stall, and the vacuum will be filled by the very actors Washington is seeking to contain. The choice is not between a perfect LAF and no LAF: it is between enabling a legitimate national institution to finish the job or weakening it in a way that directly strengthens Hezbollah and other armed groups.

Lebanon’s Peace and Prosperity

Every stakeholder has a responsibility at this moment. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and other regional partners who are seeking an alternative vision for Lebanon—one that is sovereign, independent and prosperous—, must also play their part. Their political backing, security support, and eventual economic investment will be essential in rebuilding the state and ensuring its durability.

Equally important is Lebanon’s urgent need to combat the expanding cash economy, which fuels corruption, empowers Hezbollah’s illicit networks, and undermines the very state institutions the United States and its partners are trying to strengthen. Ongoing efforts by the Central Bank Governor to tighten financial oversight and reintroduce basic monetary discipline are important first steps, but they require political backing and international support to have real impact.

Lebanese officials also remain concerned about Israel’s commitment to a full withdrawal from all Lebanese territory once Lebanon has met its obligations. At the same time, there is recognition that continued Israeli strikes risk eroding public confidence in the state and in the national army as Lebanon’s primary guarantors of security. Israeli leaders have previously indicated that a reciprocal withdrawal of IDF forces would follow credible, sustained LAF efforts to reestablish state authority and curb Hezbollah’s military presence in the south and elsewhere. A clear, public reaffirmation of this commitment would provide much-needed reassurance and strengthen the incentive structure for disarmament and de-escalation. As part of this process, Lebanon and Israel should move toward direct negotiations to demarcate their border and settle remaining points of contention. Taken together, these steps would strengthen stability along the frontier and open the door for a more durable peace between them.

For the United States, it is critically important not to walk away from its leadership role. Its long-standing and strategic investment in Lebanon is paying off and finally within reach. US leadership and support has already helped preserve Lebanon’s internal cohesion through crisis, protect its borders, address significant needed reforms and maintain a degree of stability in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Pausing or conditioning assistance in a way that weakens the LAF will only set back American objectives.

ATFL urges Congress and the Administration to lead efforts to support the LAF and Lebanon’s state institutions as the only viable path to sovereignty, accountability, and regional stability. 

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) welcomes the United States’ recent $230 million assistance package to Lebanon as a clear testament to the enduring US commitment to Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty, and reform. This support underscores the US belief that Lebanon’s future lies in reclaiming state authority and advancing toward full sovereignty and peace with its neighbors.

“With Phase I of the US proposal now underway and focused on establishing a zone free of Hezbollah’s weapons south of the Litani River, implementation must move swiftly and steadily,” said ATFL President Ed Gabriel. “The rapid and credible completion of this phase,” he added, “will mark an essential step toward restoring state control over all Lebanese territory and securing lasting peace along the southern border.”

At the same time, without tangible progress on critical governance reforms, Lebanon risks further delaying the large-scale reconstruction and recovery assistance it urgently needs. Disarmament and reform must advance in parallel. A credible reform process that strengthens institutions, enforces transparency, and rebuilds confidence in the financial system is essential to reviving legitimate economic activity and dismantling the illicit networks that have flourished amid Lebanon’s cash-based economy and erosion of state authority. As arms are brought under the sole authority of the state, effective governance and a functioning economy must fill the vacuum, ensuring that reconstruction, investment, and revived economic activity can sustain the country’s recovery.

Only through institutional stability, transparency, and renewed investor confidence can Lebanon attract the capital needed to jumpstart growth and place the country on a sustainable path to recovery. With the United States and the international community ready to assist, Lebanon must now do its part by advancing long-delayed reforms, upholding its commitments to sovereignty, and strengthening the rule of law. Meanwhile, regional stability will hinge on all parties honoring their obligations under the ceasefire framework, including continued engagement by the United States, Israel, and regional partners to uphold their respective commitments and foster the conditions for reconstruction, security, and lasting peace along the border.

During its recent visit to Lebanon, the ATFL delegation met with senior government officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as political leaders and technical experts from across the political spectrum to discuss these urgent priorities. The meetings reflected an understanding of the challenges ahead and, importantly, a sense of commitment by the Lebanese government to advance reform, restore state authority, and deliver on the promises of sovereignty and stability. ATFL views this political will as an encouraging signal that Lebanon’s leaders recognize the stakes and the opportunity to move the country toward recovery and lasting peace with the support of the US and its international partners.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) extends its congratulations to Michel Issa on his confirmation as the 31st United States Ambassador to Lebanon.

Issa’s arrival comes at a critical moment for Lebanon and the region, as the country advances its reform and reconstruction agenda, and pursues a roadmap to restore the state’s full monopoly on the use of force. The confirmation reflects the continued importance the United States places on its partnership with Lebanon and on supporting the Lebanese’s aspirations for stability, sovereignty, and prosperity.

ATFL looks forward to working with Ambassador Issa to sustain and strengthen the US-Lebanon relationship, deepen bilateral cooperation, and advance the shared goal of a secure, democratic, and revitalized Lebanon.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) welcomes the Lebanese Cabinet’s momentous decision to endorse the objectives of a US proposal for the full implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. ATFL commends President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for their bold leadership and the Lebanese Cabinet for taking this courageous and necessary step toward restoring the state’s exclusive authority over arms.

The US proposal aims to extend and stabilize the ceasefire by securing a sequence of mutually reinforcing measures. On August 7th, the Lebanese government issued a decree committing to Hezbollah’s full disarmament by year’s end. In return, Israel will cease all ground, air, and maritime military operations. The plan also calls for the complete disarmament of all militias and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory within 120 days. The United States, France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia will assist in strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to enforce the agreement and protect Lebanon’s sovereignty, and will prepare an international economic conference to support Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction.

“This is a historic step forward for Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability,” said Edward Gabriel, ATFL President. “It deserves serious support from the international community. At this time, as Lebanon’s leadership has come together at a critical juncture, the United States and its allies should work to encourage adherence and follow-through by all parties, whilst bolstering funding for the LAF to carry out its mission, and helping accelerate the international commitment to Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction.”

This action marks a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s effort to reclaim full sovereignty, with the LAF as its sole guarantor. The months ahead will benefit from sustained US leadership and international pressure to ensure full implementation of the agreement. ATFL urges the US to send a strong signal of support by prioritizing the appropriation of necessary funds to the LAF to carry out its mission. France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are likewise encouraged to join the US in strengthening the LAF and advancing the timetable for the reconstruction conference—provided both parties are meeting the agreed timelines.

By launching this time-bound process, the Lebanese government has signaled to its citizens and the world a renewed commitment to national unity, the rule of law, and regional stability. ATFL calls on the international community to stand firmly with Lebanon by sustaining diplomatic engagement, enforcement, and financial and security assistance to ensure this initiative’s success.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) congratulates ATFL Board Member Nada Hamadeh Moawad on her appointment as Lebanon’s new Ambassador to the United States.

Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Lebanon as the country confronts urgent political, economic, and humanitarian challenges. Ambassador Hamadeh Moawad brings deep experience and a steadfast commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and she will be a strong and effective representative of the Lebanese people. Her leadership will be vital in strengthening dialogue and cooperation between Lebanon and the United States.

ATFL has long been committed to advancing the US-Lebanon partnership, supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and prosperity, and promoting shared democratic values. We look forward to working closely with Ambassador Hamadeh to deepen bilateral ties and support the aspirations of the Lebanese.

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Ambassador Hamadeh for a successful and impactful tenure in Washington,” said Ambassador Ed Gabriel, President of ATFL. “Her appointment marks a new chapter in US-Lebanon relations, and we look forward to supporting her efforts to build a stronger, more resilient partnership between our two nations.”

ATFL applauds President Joseph Aoun’s speech on the anniversary of the country’s 15-year civil war, calling for unity among all Lebanese as they face unprecedented security and economic challenges. As he underscored, Lebanon’s future and its stability can only lie in a strong, inclusive and sovereign state that has the monopoly of arms. Aoun’s support for a return to the 1949 armistice agreement with Israel is a further indication of the seriousness with which the government is tackling Lebanon’s sovereignty. Israel now needs to withdraw from Lebanon in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

Lebanon’s weapons and its army must indeed be its unity as the country reclaims its sovereignty and independence. Fifty years ago, when a devastating civil war broke out in Lebanon with tragic consequences, 150,000 Lebanese perished and some 17,000 remain missing. Today has to be an occasion for the Lebanese to look back and learn from the past to build a peaceful future, grounded in unity and non-violence, under the state’s aegis.

We are heartened by the president’s words and recent actions which reflect his and his government’s will to fully enact the ceasefire agreement while building the democratic institutions necessary for the long-term survival and sovereignty of Lebanon.

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is a non-partisan organization composed of Americans of Lebanese ancestry, committed to strengthening ties between the United States and an independent, sovereign Lebanon. Our mission is rooted in fostering closer and friendlier relations between both nations.

We do not promote, attempt to influence, or endorse any individual for political office or position. In fact, one of the tenets of ATFL is that it does not get involved in the internal operations of Lebanon. In this regard, ATFL is not engaged in supporting or otherwise influencing the appointment of any candidate for high office in Lebanon. Any such claims are entirely unfounded, misleading, and false.

Furthermore, while individual ATFL members may, in their personal capacities, engage in independent initiatives or political discussions, such actions should not be construed as representing, being authorized by, or endorsed by the ATFL.

Additionally, if any board member is running for a high government position in Lebanon, their membership in ATFL will be suspended for the duration of their candidacy. Also, no Lebanese American in an official Lebanese government position is allowed to apply for or will be admitted to membership of ATFL.

ATFL remains steadfast in its principles of integrity and independence. Our mission is clear, and any suggestion that we serve private or political interests is entirely false.

ATFL applauds the Trump Administration’s decision to support funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), a key pillar of the US-Lebanon bilateral relationship.

The LAF will play a pivotal role in this transitional but key period in Lebanon’s history, starting with the full implementation of the ceasefire to secure and stabilize the country. With this support, the LAF will replace Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the south in monitoring the borders and disarming Hezbollah. This will begin the process of further strengthening the LAF to enable it to secure all borders, combat terrorism, disarm militias throughout the country, and preserve the unity of the territory.

The Lebanese army has emerged as one of the most credible of institutions in the country, despite being under-equipped and under-resourced. Since the signing of the ceasefire, it was able to deploy quickly and acted decisively to clear roads and remove munitions in the south, demonstrating the will and core capability to complete its job. We commend the LAF for this progress and count on them to expedite the remainder of their commitments as part of the ceasefire. We also expect a full withdrawal of Israeli forces as the LAF completes its mission in the south.

While this tranche of funding to the LAF is timely and will enable it to complete its mission in the south, the army will need additional support to acquire the necessary equipment, troops, and munitions that will help ensure that all weapons are centralized within the state’s control and that it is the only entity capable of keeping the peace throughout the country.

“With the help and leadership of the United States we expect all militias, including Hezbollah, to be disarmed and demobilized, leaving the LAF and Internal Security Forces as the sole protectors and defenders of Lebanon” said ATFL’s President and CEO Ed Gabriel. “The country must take advantage of this unique opportunity to reclaim its sovereignty.”

The American Task Force on Lebanon congratulates Lebanon on the nomination of Judge Nawaf Salam as prime minister on the heels of President Joseph Aoun’s landmark election that ended two years of gridlock.

President’s Aoun’s election and Salam’s designation usher in a new era that signals the possibility of much-needed change and reform, stabilizes the country, and revives state institutions. The state, under this administration, faces critical tasks, starting with reclaiming its full monopoly over arms and control over the entirety of the territory in accordance with the recent ceasefire agreement that ended hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Reconstruction will also need to be prioritized, as will the relaunch of long-stalled reforms to revive the economy and address the root causes of the country’s financial collapse.

The country can now move to realize its full potential as a sovereign and prosperous nation, free from corruption and dedicated to the security of its citizens, helping unlock billions needed in urgent foreign assistance. The Lebanese deserve a better future—and now begins the difficult task of rebuilding a state that is inclusive, united, and committed to reform.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Lebanon that should not be squandered. The next two weeks will be critical as Prime Minister Salam begins the process of forming his government. We are hopeful that the US and the international community will support a new technically competent Lebanese government that prioritizes reclaiming its sovereignty and embarks on a transformative economic and reform program.