The New York Times reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump warned, ahead of an important ministerial meeting in Beirut on Friday, that time is running out for Lebanese leaders to disarm the armed Hezbollah group before risking the loss of US and Arab Gulf financial support, and even a renewed Israeli military campaign.

The New York Times quoted US officials expressing “American concern” over the possibility of the Lebanese government retreating from taking a firm stance against Hezbollah.

This warning comes at a moment described by US officials as critical in Lebanon’s history, as the country’s government is considering a plan to force the decades-long Iran-backed group to surrender its weapons.

The United States is pressuring the Lebanese government to act decisively and not yield to Hezbollah’s threats to incite violence.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to the New York Times, said they fear the Lebanese parliamentary government might shy away from a potential confrontation with Hezbollah.

One official warned that inaction or partial measures could lead Congress to cut the annual US funding of about $150 million to the Lebanese armed forces.

US officials say the greatest danger to Lebanon from delay or incomplete actions is that Israel may conclude it must “finish the job,” as one put it, through a renewed military campaign that could cause significant damage and losses.

Israel has already established several military sites in southern Lebanon in response to what it calls Hezbollah’s failure to comply with the 2024 ceasefire. Some analysts believe Israel may create a depopulated “security zone” in the south of the country, as it did in the mid-1980s.