Hezbollah disarmament process in Lebanon expected to take four more months

Lebanese Government Announces Timeline for Disarming Hezbollah’s Arsenals

The Lebanese government has stated that its military will require approximately four months to complete the second phase of a plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenals north of the Litani River. This announcement comes amid ongoing pressure from the United States and Israel to disarm the militant group.

According to Minister of Information Paul Morcos, the government took note of the army leadership’s presentation on the second stage of the plan. The timeframe for completion is extendable depending on available capabilities, Israeli attacks, and hindrances on the ground.

Hezbollah has rejected calls to dismantle its arsenals north of the Litani River, describing such pressure as a “grave sin.” The group stated that it understands the ceasefire agreement to apply exclusively south of the waterway. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem claimed that the government’s efforts to disarm the group are partly to blame for Israel’s persistent attacks.

The Israeli military has launched new raids on southern Lebanon, striking a bus in Hanin and a car in Talloussah, killing at least two people. The Israeli military confirmed the attack on Talloussah, stating it targeted a Hezbollah fighter attempting to rebuild the group’s infrastructure.

The Lebanese government had previously committed to dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel in 2024. The plan consists of five stages, with the first phase completed last month. The second phase concerns the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, approximately 40km south of Beirut.

Lebanese authorities have reported that Israeli forces have killed over 370 people since the ceasefire, while the United Nations has documented more than 10,000 air and ground attacks by Israel in the past year. Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN last month regarding repeated Israeli violations, urging the UN Security Council to push for an end to Israeli attacks and full withdrawal from the country.

Source: Al Jazeera