Lebanon is grappling with heightened political and security tensions, sparked by a controversial remark from a U.S. envoy, a flurry of rumors on armed infiltrations, and a chilling threat from a senior Hezbollah official. 

U.S. Envoy’s Remarks Draw Alarm

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack triggered a political storm last week when he warned that Lebanon will face an existential threat if it fails to act quickly on regional realignment.

“I honestly think that they are going to say ‘the world will pass us by’. Why? You have Israel on one side, you have Iran on the other, and now you have Syria manifesting itself so quickly that if Lebanon doesn’t move, it’s going to be Bilad Al Sham again,” Barrack told The National, using the historical name for the Syria region.

“Syrians say Lebanon is our beach resort. So we need to move. And I know how frustrated the Lebanese people are. It frustrates me.”

Although Barrack later clarified his remarks, the original comment continues to reverberate across Lebanon’s political and religious circles. A senior Lebanese official told Nidaa al-Watan that no formal communication had been received from Washington and declined to interpret the statement. The source underscored that discussions with the U.S. are ongoing across multiple files and reiterated that normalization with Israel is not on the table.

Church Sources Warn of National Erosion

Maronite Church officials told Nidaa al-Watan that Barrack’s comments—and the realities they reflect—should serve as a wake-up call for the Lebanese state. They called on political leaders to reclaim the state’s authority and enforce a monopoly on arms, lamenting the slow pace of reform and the lack of accountability. The sources echoed long-standing warnings by Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, who has often been criticized for cautioning against the erosion of Lebanon’s national identity.

“There is no longer any excuse for political inaction,” the Church sources said. “While neighboring countries move forward, Lebanon continues to slip backward.”

Arrests in Upper Metn Raise Eyebrows

Adding to domestic anxiety, several individuals of various nationalities were arrested in the Upper Metn region on suspicion of forming an armed group. The suspects are being held by the Lebanese Army, which is investigating their motives and plans.

In parallel, the Lebanese Army Command denied widely circulated social media claims that armed men had infiltrated from Syria or that military units had withdrawn from eastern border areas.

“The army continues to carry out routine missions to secure the Lebanese-Syrian border and monitor internal security,” the statement read.

The military urged the public and media to refrain from spreading rumors that could inflame public tension.

No Extraordinary Measures on the Ground

Despite the growing unease, security sources told Nidaa al-Watan that no exceptional measures have been enacted along Lebanon’s northern borders or inside neighboring towns. They attributed recent disturbances in Akkar and other border areas to localized chaos rather than organized political or sectarian threats. However, the sources warned that certain actors could exploit the instability for political gain and called on the state to act firmly to contain the disorder.

Sources also confirmed that the Lebanese-Syrian security committee had reactivated its communications in recent days to address minor clashes and misunderstandings. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Adel Nassar reaffirmed that while Lebanon is engaging with Syria on the detainee issue, “core national principles” would not be compromised.

Explosives Smuggling and Hezbollah Denial

In a separate development, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a man allegedly linked to Hezbollah who was caught smuggling explosive devices through illegal crossings. The suspect, identified as Mahmoud Fadel, was allegedly planning attacks in the Homs region. Syrian authorities said preliminary investigations indicated the man was part of a Hezbollah-linked cell.

Hezbollah swiftly denied the allegations in a statement, saying it has “no presence or operational activity in Syria.”

Hezbollah Official Issues Death Threat Over Disarmament Calls

Amid growing calls from domestic political groups for Hezbollah to disarm, a senior party official issued a blunt warning.

“To those calling for the disarmament of the Resistance: we will take your lives,” said Faysal Shakar, Hezbollah’s deputy official in the Bekaa region.

“Everything can be debated, except our weapons.”

Legal Action from Kataeb Party

Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel announced that party lawyers would file a legal complaint on his behalf against Shakar. The charges include incitement to violence and murder and endangering national unity and state sovereignty.

“Anyone who thinks they can intimidate people with weapons will face justice,” Gemayel said. “We will not yield to a culture of fear. The era of impunity is over.”