CENTCOM chief calls for more US funding to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah

A top US military commander on Thursday called for additional funding for Lebanon’s army to be able to disarm Hezbollah.

“Taking on the disarmament of Hezbollah is a tall order,” United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper said.

Washington has provided close to $3 billion in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) since 2006.

The main purpose of this funding was to counter Hezbollah, US officials have repeatedly said. This was reaffirmed by Cooper and Senator Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), on Thursday.

“[Hezbollah] has been funded by Iran for decades with billions of dollars, and Hezbollah is inculcated into every fabric of the Lebanese society,” Cooper said during the SASC hearing on Capitol Hill.

Asked what the US could do to help the LAF, Cooper highlighted the “modest dollars” provided to the LAF as helpful.

But he said several units with the Lebanese army could do more. “I believe our commitment could be to provide the funding necessary so that they can do more,” he said.