U.S. Senator James Lankford has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon and strengthening the Lebanese government’s control over the country.
Lankford and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced the Lebanon Sanctions, Stabilization, and Support Act, which would impose sanctions on people supporting Iran’s financing of Hezbollah or interfering with efforts by Lebanon to disarm the group and reform its financial sector.
“For decades, Iran has used Hezbollah to destabilize Lebanon, Israel, and threaten Americans who live in the region, but President Trump has created a real opening for change by bringing Israel and Lebanon to the table for the first direct talks in 30 years,” Lankford said.
The legislation would also continue humanitarian assistance and establish an incentive fund to support infrastructure and civil services operated by the Lebanese government rather than Hezbollah.
The bill would authorize $200 million annually in security assistance for the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, with the funding conditioned on progress toward disarming Hezbollah. Assistance could increase to $300 million annually if additional progress is made.
The legislation also calls for congressional oversight of Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah, reform its banking sector and strengthen government institutions. It would require reports on U.S. efforts to coordinate between Lebanese and Israeli military forces and progress toward peaceful relations between the two countries.
