US envoy Tom Barrack said Washington cannot force but only influence Israeli actions as he met Lebanese leaders in Beirut on Monday for more talks on disarming Hezbollah and stopping Israeli bombing. “The US has no business in trying to compel Israel to do anything … America could only influence,” he said during meetings with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Lebanon has asked the US to act as guarantor to ensure that Israel will pull out its troops in full and stop targeting operations against members of Hezbollah, if the armed group begins handing in weapons.
