American Task Force on Lebanon

06/06/2026

"This is not your country, this is our country... they are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip with the US. It's unacceptable."
In a compelling exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun laid bare a vital truth: Lebanon's future must be determined by its own legitimate authority, free from external interference. As he stated clearly, there is "no other way to solve this problem and to save what is left except by negotiation and diplomacy."

ATFL strongly reinforces this call for absolute state sovereignty, a strengthened military, and a diplomatic path forward that serves the Lebanese people first.

Watch the full interview here: https://x.com/CNN/status/2062888530200711323?s=20

06/05/2026

ATFL applauds President Trump’s Efforts to Halt Attack on Beirut, Urges Support for Lebanese State Control of Greater Beirut
The American Task Force on Lebanon applauds President Trump’s leadership in helping halt Israel’s threatened attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs. While this was an important and timely intervention intended to create space for ongoing US-led talks, it is critical that this moment serves the interests of the Lebanese people and their legitimate institutions.
As our new statement emphasizes:
"But this pause must not become a victory for Hezbollah.
The United States should use this moment to strengthen the Lebanese state. That means urgently supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces as they move to assert full state authority over Greater Beirut, including the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh."
Restoring state authority over Greater Beirut is essential to Lebanese sovereignty and long-term stability.
🔗 Read our full statement here: https://buff.ly/A5b7N9M

The American Task Force on Lebanon welcomes President Trump’s leadership in helping halt Israel’s threatened attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs and preventing another major escalation in Lebanon.

06/05/2026

This isn’t just a policy update—it’s a lifeline for families facing unimaginable circumstances. As Lebanon faces severe destruction and mass displacement, ATFL commends the Trump Administration for extending TPS for Lebanese nationals for 6 months. We also thank Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. McDonald Rivet, and their colleagues for their tireless advocacy. No one should be forced to return to a war zone.
Read ATFL’s full statement:

The American Task Force on Lebanon commends President Donald J. Trump for extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Lebanese nationals in the United States for the next six months.

06/05/2026

ATFL applauds the House of Representatives for stripping disparaging comments from the Congressional Record that were made against a Member of Congress and our Lebanese and broader Arab-American community in Michigan. Americans from this community in Michigan and across the country represent a diverse and patriotic population, including active duty military personnel and military veterans who have served the US with distinction and honor. At a time when many Americans have family members affected by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, public discourse should seek to inform and unite rather than divide.

06/05/2026

🌍 Happy World Environment Day! 🇱🇧

Today, ATFL is celebrating Lebanon’s breathtaking natural landscapes and the incredible work of the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA).
Established in 2007, the LMTA protects the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT)—the country's first long-distance hiking trail. Spanning over 470 kilometers from Andqet to Marjaayoun, the trail transects 76 rural towns and villages.

Along the route, the LMT crosses critical environmental zones, including the Qadisha Valley World Heritage Site, the Al Shouf Biosphere Reserve, and the Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve. But the LMTA does more than protect nature; it actively empowers rural communities by promoting socially responsible tourism that injects vital resources into local economies.

Join us in supporting their mission to conserve Lebanon's natural and cultural wealth.
🔗 Read our full profile on the LMTA on the ATFL website!
https://atfl.org/conserving-lebanons-natural-heritage-a-profile-of-the-lebanon-mountain-trail-association-lmta/
🔗 Discover the trail: https://www.lebanontrail.org/home

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06/04/2026

ATFL Applauds President Trump’s Efforts to Halt Attack on Beirut, Urges Support for Lebanese State Control of Greater Beirut
The American Task Force on Lebanon applauds President Trump’s leadership in helping halt Israel’s threatened attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs. While this was an important and timely intervention intended to create space for ongoing US-led talks, it is critical that this moment serves the interests of the Lebanese people and their legitimate institutions.

As our new statement emphasizes:
"But this pause must not become a victory for Hezbollah.
The United States should use this moment to strengthen the Lebanese state. That means urgently supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces as they move to assert full state authority over Greater Beirut, including the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh."

Restoring state authority over Greater Beirut is essential to Lebanese sovereignty and long-term stability.

🔗 Read our full statement here: https://buff.ly/A5b7N9M

06/03/2026

An Iran Deal That Ignores Hezbollah Will Fail Lebanon | By Ambassador Ed Gabriel
In a new op-ed for The National Interest, ATFL President Ambassador Ed Gabriel addresses a critical flaw in current US-Iran diplomacy: an agreement that focuses exclusively on nuclear de-escalation while ignoring Tehran’s backing of regional proxies is fundamentally incomplete.
As Ambassador Gabriel writes:

"Any agreement that focuses on enrichment while leaving untouched the financial, military, and proxy networks through which Tehran projects regional influence risks reducing the nuclear threat while reinforcing the regional infrastructure that sustains instability."

Lebanon is currently working to rebuild its banking sector, restore transparency, and strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces. Providing a financial windfall to Tehran through sanctions relief places these fragile efforts in jeopardy.

🔗 Read the full analysis by Ed Gabriel here: https://buff.ly/fx2HGxG

An agreement to end the Iran War could mean Iran has more money and resources available for Hezbollah.

06/01/2026

Amidst the ongoing displacement across Lebanon, we are taking time to listen to Lebanese Americans reflect on their deep, enduring connections to their ancestral homes and villages. These stories remind us of the profound bonds that tie the diaspora to Lebanon.

ATFL Board Member Fayrouz Saad recently shared her beautiful memories of Bint Jbail:
“Whenever I visited Bint Jebail, it was like stepping back in time. The 'souk al khamis' (Thursday market) was my favorite part - a place where you could buy a Fairuz CD and groceries for dinner. It was everything. Our home was the gem within the village. My father built it with the dream that it would bring people together - a gazebo for a cup of coffee in the morning and a back deck for tea at night. It was surrounded by olive trees that would be pressed and brought to the US - and I have used it as a way to bring friends together and share a piece of our home. I will miss the taste of that olive oil.”

The olive trees, the bustling markets, and the homes built to bring people together—these are the memories that sustain us. At ATFL, we remain committed to advocating for a future where these communities can be secure and thrive once again.

What are your favorite memories of your ancestral village? Share them with us below. 👇

05/28/2026

ATFL Statement: Any US-Iran Deal Must Address Hezbollah and Regional Proxy Networks
As talks regarding a potential US-Iran agreement progress, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is emphasizing a critical reality: an agreement must contribute not only to nuclear de-escalation but also to broader regional stability by addressing Tehran’s support for armed non-state actors.
Recent reports suggest current talks are focused on securing a temporary ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear file. However, this comes at a consequential moment for Lebanon, which faces a rare but fragile opportunity to restore state authority, consolidate the ceasefire, and address Hezbollah’s arms.
Without credible safeguards, expanded oil revenues and financial relief risk giving Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups renewed financial and operational space. This financial windfall would directly undermine ongoing efforts by the Lebanese government and international partners to rebuild a functioning banking sector, curb illicit financing, and strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces.
ATFL commends President Donald Trump and supports his efforts to avoid a broader regional war and pursue diplomatic de-escalation. As these negotiations move forward, it is essential that any arrangement includes credible mechanisms to eliminate the financing and arming of regional proxies.
Ultimately, durable regional stability requires stronger sovereign state institutions and the disempowerment of non-state actors.
🔗 Read ATFL’s full statement here: https://buff.ly/SizpseN

The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) strongly believes that an agreement between the United States and Iran should contribute not only to nuclear de-escalation, but also to broader regional stability by addressing Tehran’s support for armed non-state actors who continue to undermine sovereign...

05/27/2026

Celebrating 40 Years of the American Task Force on Lebanon: ATFL’s Uniqueness and Our Vision for the Future

Four decades ago, ATFL was founded with a clear and enduring mission: to strengthen the historic ties between the United States and Lebanon.

What has sustained our impact on Capitol Hill for 40 years? It’s ATFL’s unique makeup. Our organization is guided by a leadership network that is proudly multi-confessional, multi-cultural, and fiercely bipartisan. Representing a true cross-section of the American and Lebanese American communities, we are united across political aisles by a fundamental belief: the strategic interests of Lebanon are aligned with the US in a strong partnership that benefits both nations.

As we mark our 40th anniversary, we are not just reflecting on our legacy—we are looking forward to the critical work ahead. The challenges facing Lebanon today are immense, but our commitment to a better future remains unwavering.

Over the coming weeks, we will be rolling out a detailed look at ATFL’s core priorities and the key issues driving our advocacy today:

🔹 Lebanon at Peace with Its Neighbors: Advocating for long-lasting, durable peace and a long-term diplomatic resolution to regional conflicts.
🔹 Support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Ensuring the LAF has the resources and backing required to serve as the sole sovereign security authority across all Lebanese territory.
🔹 Sovereignty & Monopoly of Arms: Advancing policies that fully restore Lebanese state sovereignty and facilitate the necessary disarmament of non-state actors like Hezbollah.
🔹 Reconstruction, Reform, and Recovery: Advancing Policies that address comprehensive economic reforms, rebuild infrastructure, and prioritize education and human development to secure a prosperous future for the Lebanese people.

Thank you to our community, our partners, and the leaders who have stood with us for 40 years. Stay tuned as we dive deep into the policies that will shape Lebanon’s next chapter.