US envoy Tom Barrack warned that Lebanon is at risk of falling under the control of regional powers unless Beirut takes action to resolve the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons.

In a statement to The National, Barrack said that Lebanon must find a solution to this issue, or it could face an existential threat.

He added: “You have Israel on one side, Iran on the other, and now Syria is reemerging strongly and rapidly. If Lebanon doesn’t act, it will return to being part of ‘Bilad al-Sham’ again,” using the historical name for Greater Syria.

He continued: “The Syrians say that Lebanon is their seaside resort. So we must act. I fully understand the frustration of the Lebanese people — and I share that frustration.”