U.S. State Department holds Hezbollah responsible for Israeli presence in Lebanon

A U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that Hezbollah alone bears responsibility for the Israeli presence on Lebanese territory, calling for the organization to be disarmed and dismantled. The spokesperson said the "test areas" mechanism remains the only practical path to achieving long-term peace and security for Lebanon and Israel. The U.S. expects the Lebanese Army to complete scanning and evacuation operations in initial test areas before the process is expanded, emphasizing that disarming Hezbollah is a fundamental and inseparable part of this process.