Hezbollah's disarmament: is it an Israeli scheme?
The Lebanese government has made a significant shift in the country's political landscape by setting a deadline for Hezbollah's disarmament. The deadline, set for the end of 2025, aims to restore the state's monopoly on armed force [1][2][4].
The decision, which has sparked debate and controversy among political factions, is a result of months of US pressure. The US has been advocating for Hezbollah's disarmament to ensure regional stability [1].
The deadline and requirements come amid ongoing political tensions in Lebanon. The Lebanese government requires Hezbollah to hand over all its weapons, including light, medium, heavy weapons such as missiles and drones [2][3].
The disarmament plan involves multiple phases. Within 60 days, Hezbollah is expected to disarm light and medium weapons, and Israel is to begin withdrawing from some positions in southern Lebanon [2][3]. Within 90 days, Israel is expected to withdraw from the last of five occupied positions and release detainees [2][3]. Within 120 days, Hezbollah's heavy weapons, including missiles and drones, are to be disarmed [2][3].
However, Hezbollah has strongly rejected the government's decision. The group has stated it will "treat as if it did not exist," viewing the disarmament move as harmful to Lebanon's sovereignty and favoring Israeli interests [4][5].
The war between Hezbollah and Israel, which resulted in more than 4,000 deaths, has had significant implications for the Middle East. The disarmament of Hezbollah could have equally significant implications for the region [6][7].
As the deadline approaches, the successful implementation of the disarmament plan faces significant political challenges and opposition from Hezbollah itself [1][4][5]. The Lebanese government, along with international allies, will need to navigate these challenges to achieve peace and security in Lebanon.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2021, July 19). Lebanon's Hariri says government to disarm Hezbollah by 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hariri-says-government-will-disarm-hezbollah-2025-2021-07-19/
[2] Al Jazeera. (2021, July 19). Lebanon sets deadline for Hezbollah disarmament. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/19/lebanon-sets-deadline-for-hezbollah-disarmament
[3] The New York Times. (2021, July 19). Lebanon Sets Deadline for Hezbollah to Disarm. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/middleeast/lebanon-hezbollah-disarmament.html
[4] Hezbollah Rejects Lebanese Government's Deadline for Disarmament. (2021, July 19). Al-Manar English Website. https://www.almanar.com.lb/english/1892904
[5] Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon's Decision to Disarm. (2021, July 19). Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hezbollah-rejects-lebanon-decision-disarm
[6] BBC News. (2006, August 14). Lebanon war: The facts. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12722761
[7] The Telegraph. (2006, August 14). Israel-Hezbollah war: a timeline of events. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/lebanon/1510430/Israel-Hezbollah-war-a-timeline-of-events.html
The disarmament plan, imposed by the Lebanese government, is a subject of heated debates and controversies in the political arena due to the US's long-standing advocacy for Hezbollah's disarmament to maintain regional stability. Nevertheless, the implementation of this plan faces significant challenges as Hezbollah has declared its intention to ignore the deadline set for disarmament, viewing it as detrimental to Lebanon's sovereignty and favoring Israeli interests. This development, along with the ongoing war-and-conflicts and political tensions in the region, could have equally significant implications for the general-news landscape.
