Hezbollah disarmament process to be completed in four months nationwide

Lebanon’s 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 aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenals in the southern region of the country, north of the Litani River. This announcement comes amid ongoing pressure from the United States and Israel for the group to disarm.

Minister of Information Paul Morcos made the statement during a news conference following a cabinet session on Monday. He noted that the government has taken note of the army leadership’s presentation on the second stage of the plan, which will cover an area between the Litani River and the Awali rivers, approximately 40 kilometers south of Beirut.

Hezbollah has rejected calls to dismantle its arsenals in this region, stating that it understands the ceasefire agreement to apply exclusively south of the waterway. The group’s chief, Naim Qassem, described the government’s efforts as a “grave sin” and blamed successive concessions for Israel’s persistent attacks.

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

Lebanon’s government had previously committed to dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement in 2024. The plan consists of five stages, with the first phase completed last month and the second phase currently underway.

Source: Al Jazeera