Lebanon’s government has taken a decisive – and highly controversial – step toward disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year. On August 7, Beirut approved the “goals” of a proposal by US envoy Tom Barrack aimed at “strengthening” the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. As part of this commitment, the Lebanese army is expected to present a formal action plan by the end of August.

In theory, this decision could be a turning point for Lebanon’s long-term stability. In practice, however, it risks igniting new tensions if not paired with firm guarantees from Washington regarding Israel’s conduct. For Hezbollah, the prospect of disarmament is not merely a political matter – it is existential.

Hezbollah’s parliamentary representative, Mohammed Raad, made the group’s position unmistakably clear: they would rather die than surrender their arms. Calling these weapons the group’s “honor,” Raad’s words underline Hezbollah’s deep-rooted belief that its arsenal is the ultimate safeguard for Lebanon’s Shiite community and for what it calls the “resistance” against Israel. Immediately after the government’s announcement, Hezbollah mobilized street protests in a show of force. The Lebanese army dispersed them quickly, but the underlying tensions remain unresolved.

The Lebanese decision is partly driven by international pressure, particularly from the United States. Lebanon is bound by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all armed groups other than the state’s security forces and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory. While the Lebanese........

© Blitz