U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack sounded an alarm over Hezbollah’s entrenched power and vast weaponry, warning that the terror organization continues to dominate Lebanon both militarily and politically.
Speaking during a conference in Bahrain, Barrack revealed that Hezbollah controls an army-sized force of roughly 40,000 terrorists and maintains an arsenal of between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles.
The ambassador painted a bleak picture of Lebanon’s collapse, describing a nation that has lost the ability to function as a state. He said that Lebanon is “a failed state and has no central bank, its banking system has collapsed. There is no electricity; people depend on private generators. Even water and education are provided by private suppliers. The state is Hezbollah, which in the south provides water and education.”
Barrack emphasized that Gulf nations are ready to extend a helping hand—but only under strict conditions. He noted that Arab Gulf states have expressed willingness to inject as much as $10 billion into rebuilding southern Lebanon, provided Hezbollah disarms and the country cuts ties with Iranian influence.
While acknowledging that pressuring Hezbollah to surrender its weapons could inflame Lebanon’s internal tensions, Barrack said the process must be handled with care and strategic incentives. He cautioned, however, that doing nothing is no longer an option.
He urged a shift from coercion to persuasion, suggesting that economic opportunities might achieve what threats cannot—but reiterated that the current balance of power cannot remain unchanged.
Barrack made clear that no investment would be forthcoming as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Should the group relinquish its weapons, he said, development would immediately begin in southern Lebanon, including plans for an industrial hub and a major tourist attraction along the Lebanon-Israel border.
{Matzav.com}
And yet Nawaf Salam blames Israel for all of Lebanon’s problem.
Barrack revealed that Hezbollah controls an army-sized force of roughly 40,000 terrorists and maintains an arsenal of between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles.
For perspective before Israel fought the war with them last they had ten times the amounts of rockets and missiles. They were universally believed to have about 175,000 rockets and missiles.