Lebanon’s government has decided to develop a plan by the end of the year aimed at ensuring that only state institutions possess weapons. This initiative aims to disarm Hezbollah, a Shia political entity and armed group in Lebanon that receives backing from Iran.
The decision to disarm Hezbollah follows mounting pressure from the United States. It also forms part of the implementation phase of a November 2024 ceasefire, which sought to end over a year of hostilities and two months of full-scale warfare between Israel and Hezbollah.
Under the ceasefire, Lebanese government authorities, such as the army and internal security services, are designed to be the only armed entities in the country. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the Lebanese army has been tasked with devising an implementation plan to restrict weapon possession to state forces by the end of the year. This plan is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of August for deliberation and approval.
Hezbollah has resisted calls for disarmament, with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserting that the group will not disarm amid ongoing Israeli aggression. Despite its affiliation with an Iranian political organization, a poll by the Arab Barometer in early 2024 found limited public support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Cross-border skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel have persisted for decades, with the latest conflict erupting in October 2023, following a series of massacres perpetrated by Hamas in Israel. Israel vows to continue striking Lebanese territories, targeting Hezbollah’s weapons caches and fighters, until Hezbollah is disarmed.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-wants-army-plan-to-disarm-hezbollah-by-end-of-year/a-73541699?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
