Lebanese President Urges Disarmament of Hezbollah Amid Continued Tensions
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his strong determination on Thursday to disarm Hezbollah, a move that comes amid significant pressure from the United States. He made it clear, however, that Hezbollah claims this would merely further the interests of Israel.
Last year, Hezbollah and Israel were involved in a two-month conflict that severely weakened the militant group, although it still retains a portion of its weaponry. Despite a ceasefire in November, Israel has maintained air strikes on Hezbollah targets and has warned that these could continue until the group is disarmed.
In his address, Aoun stressed the importance of reinforcing the Lebanese state’s authority throughout the country. He insisted that all armed groups, including Hezbollah, should hand over their weapons to the Lebanese army. He described the current moment as a “historic opportunity” for Lebanon, urging politicians to work towards ensuring that only the army and police have access to arms.
According to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah was supposed to pull back its fighters north of the Litani River, which is around 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. While Israel was to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon, it continues to maintain a presence in various strategic areas.
This truce was based on a long-standing UN resolution that stated that only the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers should have weapons in southern Lebanon, with all non-state groups needing to disarm. However, this resolution has largely remained unfulfilled over the years.
Aoun, who began his presidency in January after a two-year vacancy, was elected partly due to changes in power dynamics following the recent conflict.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized calls for disarmament, claiming they serve Israel’s agenda. He condemned US envoy Tom Barrack for allegedly using intimidation in his discussions with Lebanese officials.
In recent months, Israel has conducted daily airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting locations it claims are linked to Hezbollah. The Israeli military stated that it struck a major precision missile manufacturing site during airstrikes on Thursday.
Aoun indicated that Lebanon is at a critical juncture and stressed that any form of provocation must be avoided. He voiced his commitment to establishing a monopoly on state weapons, emphasizing this is necessary to ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.
Lebanon has suggested modifications to US proposals regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament. Additionally, Aoun called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to hostilities, stating, “Today, we must choose between collapse and stability.”
After the Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990, Hezbollah was the only group that retained its arms, arguing they were necessary for resistance against Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon until 2000. Lebanon has also pledged to work towards disarming Palestinian militant groups within its refugee camps.
