US sends $230 million to Lebanon as it moves to disarm Hezbollah

3/10/2025 7:49

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration approved $230 million for Lebanon's security forces this week as they push to disarm the once powerful armed group Hezbollah, sources in Washington and Beirut said.



A Lebanese source familiar with the decision said the funding included $190 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces.



Democratic U.S. congressional aides said the funds had been released just before Washington's fiscal year ended on September 30. "For a small country like Lebanon, that's really, really significant," one of the aides said on a call with reporters, requesting anonymity in order to speak freely.



The U.S. State Department did not respond to a request for comment. The funding was released at a time when the Republican president's administration has been slashing many foreign assistance programs, saying that its priority in spending taxpayer dollars is America First.