A group of Lebanese soldiers monitor an anti-government demonstration in Beirut in February 2020. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have played a leading role in disarming Hezbollah after the November 2024 ceasefire. (Shutterstock/Paul Saad)

The Stars Are Aligning for Hezbollah’s Disarmament

Share this link on Facebook

Share this page on X (Twitter)

Share this link on LinkedIn

Share this page on Reddit

Email a link to this page

Despite public displays of defiance, Hezbollah is weaker than ever before—and the rest of Lebanon is united in opposition to its continued militancy.

Lebanon has witnessed heightened momentum this month surrounding efforts to disarm Hezbollah.

While the visit by Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Rodolphe Haykal to Washington to discuss military cooperation reaffirmed the importance of sustained support for the LAF in its efforts to defend state sovereignty and advance Hezbollah’s disarmament, the visit of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Beirut to coordinate preparations for a March conference in Paris backing the LAF underscored growing international pressure on the issue. These visits coincided with a congressional hearing dedicated to Hezbollah’s disarmament, as well as the introduction of a new bill by congressmen Darrell Issa (R-California) and Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) seeking to sanction “any foreign person or entity that hinders, obstructs or delays Lebanon’s electoral process.”

Such momentum surrounding Hezbollah’s disarmament is unprecedented, and presents a historic opportunity to reshape Lebanon. Disarming and weakening Hezbollah is not only integral to restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and prosperity, but also a key component of US efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the Middle East and potentially anchor a durable regional security framework.

Hezbollah Doesn’t Want to Give Up Its Guns

US support for the LAF has long remained complex, given Hezbollah’s continued entrenchment within Lebanon’s “deep state,” including elements of military and security institutions. However, advocacy for sustained assistance persists on the premise that a capable LAF can serve as an institutional counterweight to Hezbollah. It is now evident that the disarmament file has shifted from a crisis management approach to shaping Lebanon’s future.

Against this backdrop, the LAF presented on February 16 during a cabinet meeting its plan for the second phase of Hezbollah’s disarmament—requesting four months for its completion, extendable to eight depending primarily on available capabilities. The phase covers the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, approximately 25 miles to the south of Beirut. The broader five-phase plan began with the LAF’s deployment south of the Litani River, then expands northward between the Litani and Awali, proceeds to Beirut and its southern suburbs, pivots to the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and ultimately extends to the rest of the country. The LAF stated in January that it had completed the first phase and achieved operational........

© The National Interest