Calls for Hezbollah to Disarm Gain Momentum in Lebanon
Renewed Focus on Hezbollah’s Arms
As the situation in Lebanon continues to unfold, the calls for Hezbollah to disarm have gained momentum. A senior Hezbollah official has revealed that the group is ready to hold talks with the Lebanese president about its weapons, but only if Israel withdraws from south Lebanon and stops its strikes.
Hezbollah’s Position on Disarmament Talks
The senior Hezbollah official told Reuters that the group is willing to discuss its arms in the context of a national defense strategy. However, this hinges on Israel pulling out its troops from five hilltops in south Lebanon. The official stated that Hezbollah is ready to discuss the matter of its arms if Israel withdraws from the five points and halts its aggression against Lebanon.
Background on Hezbollah’s Military Presence
Hezbollah has been the most powerful of the paramilitary groups Iran has backed across the region, but its supply lines to Iran via Syria have been cut by Assad’s ouster. The group has long rejected calls from its critics in Lebanon to disarm, describing its weapons as vital to defending the country from Israel. Deep differences over its arsenal spilled into a short civil war in 2008.
U.S. Position on Disarmament
The U.S. has demanded that Hezbollah disarm, and is preparing for nuclear talks with Hezbollah’s Iranian backers. U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, who visited Beirut at the weekend, repeated Washington’s position that Hezbollah and other armed groups should be disarmed as soon as possible and the Lebanese army was expected to do the job.
Disarmament Timeline
Several Lebanese government ministers want a disarmament timetable, said Kamal Shehadi, a minister affiliated with the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party. Shehadi told Reuters that disarmament should take no more than six months, citing post-civil war militia disarmament as a precedent.
Diplomatic Efforts
Aoun has said Hezbollah’s weaponry must be addressed through dialogue because any attempts to disarm the group by force would prompt conflict. Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, the head of Lebanon’s Maronite church, said last week it was time for all weapons to be in state hands but this would need time and diplomacy because "Lebanon cannot bear a new war."
Conclusion
The situation in Lebanon remains complex, with various stakeholders pushing for disarmament and others advocating for a more nuanced approach. The calls for Hezbollah to disarm have gained momentum, but the group’s willingness to discuss its arms is conditional on Israel’s withdrawal and cessation of strikes. The fate of Hezbollah’s arsenal and its impact on the Lebanese state remains uncertain, with diplomatic efforts underway to address the issue.
FAQs
Q: What is Hezbollah’s position on disarmament talks?
A: Hezbollah is willing to discuss its arms in the context of a national defense strategy if Israel withdraws from south Lebanon and stops its strikes.
Q: What is the U.S. position on Hezbollah’s disarmament?
A: The U.S. demands that Hezbollah disarm and is preparing for nuclear talks with Hezbollah’s Iranian backers.
Q: What is the proposed timeline for disarmament?
A: Several Lebanese government ministers want a disarmament timetable, with a maximum of six months to complete the process.
Q: What is the role of the Lebanese state in disarmament efforts?
A: The Lebanese state is expected to dismantle all unauthorized military facilities and confiscate all arms, with the army playing a key role in the process.
Q: What is the significance of the Litani River in the disarmament process?
A: The Litani River serves as a boundary between areas where the Lebanese army is expected to disarm Hezbollah and areas where the group maintains its military presence.