The Lebanese state's lack of effective sovereignty hinders efforts to negotiate with Israel and disarm Hizballah. The United States has been hosting talks between Israel and the Lebanese government since April, but fighting continues.
The Lebanese Armed Forces need assistance to deter or defeat Hizballah, including financial support to pay soldiers' salaries and provide basic necessities like ammunition and training.
However, the question of confronting Hizballah is complicated by the political and social configuration in Lebanon, with a quarter of the military being Shiite, the same religious community that forms Hizballah's base.
