The visit of US envoy Tom Barrack to southern Lebanon has been cut short amid widespread protests and outrage over his recent comments to journalists in the country.
According to the Lebanese government’s official news agency, Barrack’s altered trip on Wednesday came as a result of growing discontent among the Lebanese people, particularly in southern regions where Hezbollah maintains significant support. The US Department of State has not commented on the reported change of plans.
Barrack, who serves as the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, faced intense scrutiny after telling journalists to “act civilized” during a press encounter following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun in Beirut.
The US envoy further stated that he would stop taking questions if the situation became “chaotic, like animalistic,” drawing comparisons to the wider unrest in the Middle East. Critics accused Barrack of displaying a colonial mentality, prompting the Lebanese presidency to express regret over his comments.
The controversy surrounding Barrack’s visit is closely tied to the US push for Hezbollah disarmament.
Lebanon’s cabinet had instructed the army to prepare a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, a decision taken under significant US pressure and amid threats from Israel of further military escalation.
Barrack’s comments on Tuesday suggested that Lebanon’s government would present a Hezbollah disarmament plan in the coming days, which would also require Israel’s cooperation to keep up its end of the deal.
Protests erupted in southern Lebanon, with demonstrators waving Hezbollah flags, carrying pictures of slain fighters, and standing near anti-US slogans scrawled on the road in Khiam.
One message in Arabic read, “America is the great Satan,” while another in English said, “Barak is animal.” Similar protests were reported in Tyre, where dozens gathered to oppose Barrack’s expected arrival and denounce Washington’s “biased policies.”
The tensions between Israel and Lebanon have escalated significantly since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Gaza and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in the Palestinian enclave.
Although Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, violating the deal.
Israel has accused Hezbollah and Lebanon’s governments of failing to comply with the provisions of the agreements.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has firmly rejected any plans to disarm the group, stating that Israel must first withdraw fully from Lebanese territory and stop its continuing attacks before any discussion on laying down weapons can begin.
This stance has created a significant impasse in negotiations, with the US and Israel pushing for Hezbollah disarmament as a key component of regional stability.
The situation is further complicated by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where half of US voters believe Israel is committing genocide, according to a recent poll. The international community remains deeply divided over the issue, with growing calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.