Lebanon Grapples with Consequences of Hezbollah Weapons Deadline Impasse

Lebanon’s Government Sets Deadline for Disarming Hezbollah

The Lebanese government has set a deadline of December 31, 2025, for the completion of the first phase of disarming Hezbollah in the southern part of the country. The plan was formulated by the military in September and is based on a proposal put forward by the United States.

Hezbollah has rejected the decree, calling it a “grave sin” and stating that it will not give up its weapons. The group’s leader, Naim Qassem, has stated that the efforts to disarm Hezbollah are part of a US-Israeli plan aimed at undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty.

The Lebanese military has presented a phased approach to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south of the country and moving northwards to Beirut and eventually nationwide. However, Israeli forces have continued to conduct daily air strikes on Lebanon, despite the deadline for the completion of the first phase.

In recent weeks, Israel has bombed several villages in southern Lebanon and destroyed the last undamaged home in the border town of Marwahin. The group’s top commander, Haytham Tabtabai, was killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut in November. An Israeli attack also killed three people, including a Lebanese army officer, in the coastal city of Sidon last week.

Hezbollah has stated that it will only discuss a national defense strategy for Lebanon once Israel stops its attacks. The group’s allies argue that Hezbollah’s weapons are not effective in deterring Israeli strikes and that the group should not be allowed to make war and peace decisions on its own.

The United States, which is providing significant military aid to Lebanon, has stated that it does not support the Lebanese armed forces in confronting Israel. US special envoy Tom Barrack said in September that Washington’s goal is to arm the Lebanese army so they can fight their own people, Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has also accused Israel of being an expansionist entity that does not need an excuse to attack Lebanon, citing its actions in Syria as an example. The group’s stance on disarmament and national defense remains a contentious issue in Lebanon.

Source: Al Jazeera