Beirut (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Lebanon does not seek conflict and believes that conversations about Hezbollah’s disarmament are necessary “through calm and responsible communication with the concerned parties.”
Aoun asserted that only the Lebanese military is responsible for the sovereignty of Lebanon independence.
“We will implement the arms embargo, but we are awaiting the circumstances to determine how it will be implemented,”
he said.
A few days ago, Aon recently stated that he plans to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year and allow members of the militant organization to join the Lebanese army.
Can Aoun disarm Hezbollah without sparking civil unrest?
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, can be disarmed this year after an Israeli military campaign that left the group significantly weakened and leaderless.
“We hope that Hezbollah’s weapons will be withdrawn or that their possession will be restricted to the state in 2025, and this is what I am striving for,”
the United States-backed president said during an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed published.
“As for Hezbollah members, they are ultimately Lebanese, and if they want to join the army, they can undergo so-called absorption courses,”
Aoun said, noting that the group would not operate as a separate entity within the Lebanese army.
Will Hezbollah agree to lay down its weapons?
Experts suggest that although Hezbollah wishes to keep its weapons, Israel’s ongoing weakening of the group, along with consistent attacks on Lebanon and pressure from the Lebanese government, could turn what once seemed impossible into a tangible reality.
Prior to its conflict with Israel last year, Hezbollah was considered the most powerful non-state armed group in the Middle East, possessing tens of thousands of missiles and a highly trained military force.
Aoun stated that the government has not yet engaged with Hezbollah on the issue, but Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Shiite politician allied with the militant group, “is in full agreement” that the state should maintain a monopoly on arms. Berri acted as the intermediary between Hezbollah and the US in last year’s negotiations for a ceasefire with Israel.
Some experts suggest that although Aoun is under pressure from both Israel and the United States to swiftly disarm Hezbollah, he remains cautious about his fragile circumstances.
“Aoun stated his intention to establish a state monopoly on arms this year, although he did not firmly commit to that timeline,” remarked David Woods, Senior Lebanon Analyst at the International Crisis Group. “(Aoun) is fully aware of the state’s vulnerable stance regarding Hezbollah, which likely still possesses formidable military strength despite its significant losses in the conflict.”
