A Hezbollah lawmaker made a firm statement on Saturday, asserting that the group will not relinquish its weapons. This declaration came the day after the Lebanese government mandated the army to begin executing a plan aimed at disarming the organization. The move follows significant pressure from the United States and mounting fears that Israel might step up its military operations.
Last month, the Lebanese government ordered the military to devise a strategy to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Despite this directive, a cabinet meeting on Friday was notably boycotted by Hezbollah and its allies, during which the government expressed its support for the army’s disarmament plan. Information Minister Paul Morcos indicated that the army would commence implementation based on “the available capabilities.” He also highlighted potential challenges, including warnings from the army commander about “constraints” during implementation, particularly due to ongoing risks posed by “Israeli attacks.” Notably, no specific timeline for the operation was provided.
Progress on this contentious initiative is reportedly contingent upon the “commitment of other parties, foremost Israel,” as outlined in a government statement. Lawmaker Hassan Ezzedine, representing Hezbollah, made it clear that the group would not yield its arms “under any circumstances or pretext at all.” This comment was reported by the state-run National News Agency. He urged those who pushed for the “sinful, hasty, reckless decision” to disarm Hezbollah to reconsider their stance and rectify what he deemed as mistakes. Ezzedine warned that failure to do so would hold them responsible for any ensuing consequences.
Ezzedine also commended the actions of the Shiite ministers from Hezbollah and its ally, Amal, for leaving the cabinet meeting when the army commander began detailing the disarmament plan. The ongoing political dynamics in Lebanon are complicated by the country’s sect-based power-sharing system, where legitimacy is derived from consensus across various factions.
The Lebanese government’s push for disarmament is framed within the context of a US-brokered ceasefire that was established to halt more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, culminating in November. Despite this ceasefire, Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah have persisted, and Israel’s military presence remains in strategic locations throughout southern Lebanon.
France reacted positively to the cabinet’s decision, labeling it “a new positive step.” The French Foreign Ministry urged all Lebanese actors to facilitate the peaceful execution of the disarmament plan without delay, underscoring the international interest in stabilizing the region and mitigating the tensions surrounding Hezbollah.
