Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun has said that he hopes Iran-backed Hezbollah can be disarmed this year, following an Israeli military campaign that left the group decapitated and significantly weakened.
Hezbollah was formed in the aftermath of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the early 1980s, and has grown to become a formidable rival political and military force within the country. The militants have long resisted calls to disarm.
Speaking in an interview, Aoun said, “We hope that Hezbollah’s weapons will be withdrawn or that their possession will be restricted to the state in 2025, and this is what I am striving for.”
“As for Hezbollah members, they are ultimately Lebanese, and if they want to join the army, they can undergo so-called absorption courses.”
Joseph Aoun
He added that the group would not be allowed to function as a distinct unit within the Lebanese army.
He stressed however that the process could only be done through dialogue. “We want to withdraw Hezbollah’s weapons, but we do not want to ignite a civil war,” he said.
Aoun stated that the government has yet to speak to Hezbollah about the matter, but that Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, a Shiite politician allied to the militant group, “is in full agreement” that the state should have a monopoly over arms.
Berri served as the mediator between Hezbollah and the US in talks last year to reach a ceasefire with Israel.
Experts say that while Hezbollah may prefer to retain its arms, Israel’s weakening of the group and its continued attacks on Lebanon along with pressure from the Lebanese government may make the once inconceivable prospect a reality.
Until its conflict with Israel last year, Hezbollah was widely regarded as the most formidable non-state armed group in the Middle East, with tens of thousands of missiles and a well-trained military force.
Some experts say that while Aoun is facing pressure from both Israel and the United States to quickly disarm Hezbollah, he is nonetheless wary of the precarious situation he is in.
Asked about the failure of previous attempts to discuss Hezbollah’s weapons, Aoun said the regional situation had changed, pointing to Iran’s “developing position” toward allied militias in the region.
Aoun said that he has told US officials that Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon “gives Hezbollah a pretext” to remain armed, urging the US to pressure Israel to withdraw.
Hezbollah’s disarmament could have a significant impact on regional dynamics.
Just months ago, the group was seen as Iran’s most powerful regional proxy, engaging in tit-for-tat strikes with the Israeli army until an Israeli campaign killed many of its senior guard.
The toppling of Hezbollah-ally Bashar al-Assad in neighboring Syria also weakened the group.
Peace Negotiations With Israel Impossible
Asked whether it is possible for Lebanon to engage in normalization talks with Israel should the Israeli army withdraw, Aoun said that while “anything is possible” in politics, the circumstances on the ground dictate reality.
“The Americans currently know that normalization or peace negotiations with Israel are impossible, and the key for us today is to establish long-term stability on the border.”
Joseph Aoun
Nonetheless, he said that full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah remains a possibility but is unlikely, adding that Hezbollah has recently “shown a sense of responsibility despite the heavy human losses it has suffered.”
“Ultimately the possibility remains with the continuation of (Israeli) attacks. Hence, we always repeat: Let us negotiate with Hezbollah.”
Joseph Aoun
Lebanon’s government has repeatedly condemned continued Israeli strikes on its territory, calling them a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
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