Washington, D.C. – U.S. Special Envoy to Lebanon Morgan Ortagus is set to meet with Lebanese leadership on October 30, 2025, amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah. Yesterday, Ortagus held discussions with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defense Minister Maurice Sleem, receiving an intelligence briefing from the head of Military Intelligence on Hezbollah’s rearmament efforts. The meetings aim to advance the disarmament of Hezbollah under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, but Israeli officials in Jerusalem assess her chances of success as low.

Ortagus, appointed in early 2025, has been pushing for compliance with UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The briefing highlighted Hezbollah’s rebuilding of rocket launchers and tunnels, despite the November 2024 truce. “Hezbollah’s actions threaten regional stability,” Ortagus stated post-meeting, urging Lebanon to enforce the agreement.

In Jerusalem, officials expressed skepticism, noting Hezbollah’s open letter rejecting negotiations with Israel as a “betrayal.” The group continues low-level violations, including border clashes, complicating Ortagus’s mission. The U.S. has warned of consequences if disarmament stalls, with Israel ready to act unilaterally.