By Maria Maalouf
On February 25, 2025, Washington, D.C., lit up with a sense of purpose as the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP) hosted a reception to kick off its Mission V to Lebanon. The venue, steeped in prestige, welcomed a distinguished crowd eager to champion Lebanon’s cause. Congressman Darin LaHood from Illinois stood out among the guests. His personal ties to Lebanon, rooted in his great-grandfather’s journey from Aitou, made his presence deeply felt. Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina joined him, bringing his seasoned perspective on Middle East affairs. Diplomats from the Lebanese Embassy added an official air to the evening. They mingled with heads of the Lebanese American Coordinating Committee (LACC) member organizations, a coalition dedicated to advocating for Lebanon’s diaspora. Leaders from Washington’s Lebanese American community rounded out the gathering. These were folks with stories of hometowns like Bsharri or Zahlé, voices carrying the weight of a homeland in crisis. The room buzzed with conversation. Laughter mixed with serious tones as glasses clinked. It wasn’t just a social event. It was a bold declaration of solidarity. Lebanon, reeling from years of economic collapse and political gridlock, loomed large in every exchange. The shadow of Hezbollah’s influence hung over the night too. Yet, the mood was one of determination. Attendees shared a vision of a Lebanon unshackled from chaos. LARP’s Mission V, building on past delegations that met with Lebanese presidents and officials, aimed to strengthen cultural and political bonds. The reception felt like a launchpad. It set the stage for action. For the Lebanese Americans present, this was personal. Many had watched their ancestral land suffer from afar. Hyperinflation had gutted the lira since 2019. Corruption had paralyzed Beirut’s leadership. Still, hope flickered. The presence of U.S. lawmakers signaled that Washington cared. The embassy staff listened intently as community leaders spoke of resilience. One attendee recalled a recent visit to Beirut. Blackouts and empty shelves had greeted them, yet the spirit of the people endured. This night was about more than talk. It was about forging a path forward. Mission V promised to keep Lebanon on America’s radar. As the evening unfolded, it became clear. This was a community united, ready to push for change.
The congressmen didn’t just show up to the LARP reception. They used it to amplify America’s stake in Lebanon’s future. Darin LaHood had recently met Lieutenant General Jasper Jeffers, the commander of U.S. troops stationed in Lebanon. Though Jeffers wasn’t there that night, his earlier briefing left a mark on LaHood. It shaped the congressman’s words to the crowd. Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on November 26, 2024, about 1,000 U.S. troops have been on the ground. They’re embedded with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Israeli forces, a tricky but critical partnership. Their job is to keep the peace in Lebanon’s south. That region, scarred by decades of conflict, remains a flashpoint. The troops monitor the situation closely. They enforce the truce, ensuring Hezbollah pulls back north of the Litani River, roughly 18 miles from Israel’s border. More than that, they’re working to erode Hezbollah’s capabilities. LaHood leaned into this point. He’s long criticized the Iran-backed militia for strangling Lebanon’s potential. To him, the LAF is the answer. With 80,000 troops, it’s a force with promise. Economic woes have left soldiers underpaid, earning as little as $100 a month. U.S. aid, like the $67 million sent last year, aims to fix that. LaHood urged more support. He praised Jeffers’ reports of progress. In January, the general had toured LAF checkpoints, watching the 5th Brigade seize rockets in Chama. Joe Wilson took a broader view. A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he tied Lebanon’s stability to the region’s security. A Hezbollah-dominated south threatens Israel and Jordan, he argued. Iran’s reach weakens if Lebanon stands firm. Both lawmakers saw the U.S. presence as a game-changer. They nodded to the ceasefire’s fragile success. Israeli strikes in 2024, including one that killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, had dented the group’s arsenal. Yet, its fighters linger, testing limits. U.S. troops, alongside 10,000 UN peacekeepers, hold the line. LaHood and Wilson spoke with conviction. They called for modern tools for the LAF, drones and vehicles to match its resolve. The crowd listened closely. Lebanese Americans nodded, their own families touched by the turmoil. One attendee whispered about a cousin in Beirut, struggling but hopeful. The reception became a rallying cry. It blended policy with passion. For these leaders, Lebanon wasn’t just a cause. It was a commitment.
The reception thrummed with a shared mission. Lebanese American leaders, from doctors to entrepreneurs, filled the room. They stood shoulder to shoulder with LACC representatives, their voices rising above the chatter. This was a diaspora bound by heritage and frustration. They see the LAF as Lebanon’s lifeline. It’s the key to wresting control from Hezbollah, a militia that’s long cast a shadow over the nation. LaHood and Wilson fueled that belief. They painted a vivid picture of U.S. troops de-conflicting the south. The soldiers aren’t just placeholders. They’re actively supporting the LAF, ensuring Hezbollah retreats and stays north of the Litani River. That 18-mile buffer matters. It’s a step toward reclaiming the border. The congressmen’s words resonated. Attendees felt the weight of America’s role. One community leader, a restaurateur whose parents fled Beirut in the 1980s, spoke plainly. Lebanon can’t wait, he said. The people need a government that serves them, not a militia that dominates. Others agreed. They recalled the banking collapse that erased $100 billion in savings. The 2020 port explosion, killing 218 with no justice, still stings. LARP’s Mission V offered a spark. Past trips had secured small victories, like school funding. This time, the goal is bigger. It’s about cementing U.S. support for a free Lebanon. The room buzzed with ideas. Sanctions on Hezbollah’s allies came up. So did trade incentives and refugee aid. Embassy diplomats listened, their faces reflecting the strain of representing a nation in freefall. Ambassador Antoine Chedid thanked LARP for keeping Lebanon visible. He sidestepped Hezbollah talk, a diplomatic tightrope. The community didn’t hold back. A young professional from Virginia shared her last trip to Beirut. Protests had filled the streets, she said. Elections, stalled since 2022, were overdue. The LAF’s recent wins, seizing weapons and patrolling borders, gave her hope. U.S. backing could tip the scales. As the night wound down, optimism crept in. It was cautious but real. Lebanon’s south showed signs of progress. Forty percent of villages are under LAF control, per a UN report. Hezbollah’s rockets are down. The ceasefire holds, mostly. For attendees, this was personal. One father glanced at his kids’ photos, dreaming of a free Lebanon. The reception wasn’t just a gathering. It was a pledge. With U.S. resolve and diaspora grit, Mission V could chart a new course.
