Lebanon's parliament leader advocates for a national discussion on Hezbollah's armaments, denounces American influence exerted upon the issue
In a significant development, the Hezbollah militant group played a crucial role in negotiating a ceasefire with Washington that ended a months-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in November. However, the path towards disarmament and peace remains complex, with various parties holding different views.
The conflict, which began in October 2023 after a Hamas-led attack against Israel from Gaza, escalated into war in September 2024, resulting in over 4,000 deaths and $11 billion worth of destruction in Lebanon. The World Bank reported this devastating toll.
Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, has been a key figure in the discussions surrounding disarmament. He has criticized the quick disarmament of Hezbollah by the U.S. and called for a national dialogue to determine the fate of those weapons. Berri stated, "We are open to discussing the fate of these weapons, which we Lebanese see as honorable, within the framework of a calm and consensual dialogue."
The original ceasefire plan last November called for Hezbollah to disarm in southern Lebanon below the Litani River, while Israel would withdraw its forces from Lebanon and stop its strikes. However, U.S. officials have told Lebanese authorities not to expect the Israelis to take any steps to withdraw before seeing some sort of disarmament plan go into effect.
The Lebanese government, under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has endorsed a proposal by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to monopolize all weapons in the hands of the Lebanese military and security agencies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Israeli troops could begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon following Beirut's decision, without providing details.
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Kassim has refused to discuss the matter of Hezbollah's weapons until the Israeli military withdraws from five hilltops in southern Lebanon and stops its near-daily strikes on Lebanon. This stance has raised concerns about a potential conflict between the country's military and Hezbollah.
Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. The Lebanese military will present a plan to the government on disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has praised the Lebanese government's decision to disarm Hezbollah during a recent visit.
As the situation in Lebanon continues to evolve, it is clear that the road to peace is a complex one. The international community will be closely watching the developments in Lebanon as the Lebanese government and Hezbollah navigate this delicate path towards disarmament and peace.
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