Morgan Ortagus to Visit Lebanon for Security-Focused Meetings

U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus is set to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday for a tightly focused visit centered on military and security matters. According to prominent sources, her primary objective will be to review the Lebanese Army’s progress in implementing the government’s decision to consolidate all weapons under state authority. The army has been tasked with executing this policy through a detailed operational plan, which Washington is closely monitoring.

Focus on Ceasefire and Arms Control

Ortagus will also participate in Monday’s session of the ceasefire monitoring committee, a platform designed to evaluate stability and security mechanisms along Lebanon’s sensitive borders. While speculation had arisen that the contentious issue of non-state arms had been sidelined after the September 5 parliamentary session, sources stressed this was not the case. “There was no settlement or retreat,” one source explained, emphasizing that the United States remains firmly committed to ensuring the Lebanese Army carries out every aspect of the plan without delay.

Limited Political Engagement

Notably, Ortagus has not requested meetings with Lebanon’s political leaders during this trip. Informed officials told al-Akhbar newspaper that her schedule is restricted exclusively to security and military consultations. This decision reflects Washington’s determination to keep the visit tightly aligned with its agenda: oversight of the army’s actions, rather than political maneuvering.

The sources further noted that Ortagus’ presence forms part of a broader U.S. strategy of “continuous follow-up,” in which American officials track each step of the Lebanese Army’s implementation process. Washington’s insistence on strict adherence suggests that any perceived evasion or stalling could draw further pressure from the U.S., underscoring the significance it places on controlling the spread of arms outside state institutions.