Report: Lebanon warned of escalation in August if it doesn't act on arms monopoly

The August deadline mentioned by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack turned out to be related to putting the issue of monopolizing arms in the hands of the state on Cabinet’s agenda, Al-Jadeed television reported.

“Lebanon has received messages that we will face an Israeli escalation in August unless the entire Lebanese governing authority takes measures to accompany the international agenda,” Al-Jadeed quoted Lebanese political sources as saying.

Al-Jadeed added that “Saudi-U.S.-French communication took place after Barrack’s visit to Lebanon, and it was agreed to reject what they considered as time buying, stressing the need that Lebanon go to the implementation of Barrack’s paper.”

President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam “are in agreement on the approach toward the weapons file, with the priority of avoiding domestic strife, and PM Salam informed Speaker Berri in their Saturday meeting of the negative indications that he heard in Paris,” Al-Jadeed said.

As for Hezbollah’s stance, sources close to the party told Al-Jadeed that “its rejection of Barrack’s paper reflects its rejection of handing over arms according to the U.S.-Israeli conditions.”

Hezbollah is “rather calling for a dialogue on how to preserve Lebanon’s strength within what it sees as a national strategy,” the sources said, adding that “Hezbollah understands the sensitivity of the coming period and is preparing for it without seeking to engage in war.”

“If the war happens, it will be imposed on Lebanon,” the sources added.