U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday he was "unbelievably satisfied" with Lebanon's response to Washington's proposals to disarm Hezbollah.

BEIRUT — A U.S. envoy said Monday he was satisfied with the Lebanese government’s response to a proposal to disarm the militant Hezbollah group , adding that Washington is ready to help the small crisis-hit nation emerge from its long-running political and economic crisis.

Naim Qassem says his group will not surrender or lay down weapons in response to Israeli threats, despite pressure on the group to disarm. The Hezbollah chief says the Lebanese group remains open to peace, but it will not disarm or back down from confronting Israel until it ends its air raids and withdraws from southern Lebanon.