Hezbollah's weapons disarmament discussion intensifies in Lebanon
In the heart of the Middle East, the debate over the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon is currently intensifying. The issue has gained significant attention, with the USA increasing pressure on Lebanon to advance disarmament with concrete steps and Israel's military regularly engaging in attacks in Lebanon, claiming to enforce disarmament.
Israel's soldiers are stationed at five posts in southern Lebanon, a constant reminder of the ongoing tension. Hezbollah, however, maintains a strong presence, particularly within the Shia community in Lebanon, boasting a significant number of supporters and influence.
The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect at the end of November, has not quelled the controversy. Hezbollah members, who are also a political party, have threatened to resign from the government in protest if a decision about disarmament is made.
Hezbollah is open to discussions about its arsenal of weapons but refuses to commit to a specific timeline for disarmament. The organization views the disarmament issue as a collective win or lose situation for Lebanon, according to a statement from Hezbollah's chief.
The Lebanese cabinet has been discussing this issue, but the discussion has been postponed until next week. The cabinet has already approved a US-proposed plan for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to disarm Hezbollah and aims to complete this process by the end of 2025.
However, Hezbollah's leadership, including senior figures like Qassem, has denounced the cabinet decision as a "grave sin" and warned against imposing a monopoly of arms solely under the LAF. Hezbollah argues that its weapons constitute a crucial deterrent against Israeli aggression and insists on a hierarchical approach to security issues, prioritizing an Israeli withdrawal and cessation of hostilities before any talks about disarmament.
Before the latest war with Israel, Hezbollah was one of the most heavily armed non-state actors worldwide. Since the war, Hezbollah's arsenal of weapons has shrunk significantly, but the organization remains a formidable force in the region.
The next formal cabinet meeting discussing the implementation of this disarmament plan is expected soon, likely on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The outcome of this meeting could shape the political landscape of Lebanon for years to come.
[1] Al Jazeera. (2025). Lebanon's cabinet approves US-proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/lebanon-s-cabinet-approves-us-proposed-plan-to-disarm-hezbollah
[2] Reuters. (2025). Hezbollah refuses to disarm as long as Israeli troops are in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-refuses-disarm-long-israeli-troops-lebanon-2025-08-01/
[3] BBC News. (2025). Lebanon's cabinet to discuss Hezbollah disarmament next week. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58247674
[4] The New York Times. (2025). Hezbollah's arsenal of weapons has shrunk significantly since the war. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/world/middleeast/hezbollah-weapons-shrunk-since-war.html
[5] The Guardian. (2025). Hezbollah warns against imposing a monopoly of arms solely under the LAF. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/06/hezbollah-warns-against-imposing-a-monopoly-of-arms-solely-under-the-laf
[1] War-and-conflicts continue to dominate the political landscape of Lebanon, with the ongoing debate over Hezbollah's disarmament receiving significant attention. Politics and general news outlets are closely monitoring the situation.
[2] The Lebanese cabinet's approval of a US-proposed plan for the disarmament of Hezbollah has been met with resistance from Hezbollah, who views the issue as a collective win or lose situation for Lebanon and prefers a hierarchical approach to security issues that prioritizes an Israeli withdrawal and cessation of hostilities before any talks about disarmament.
