Lebanon: Internal Dialogue Aims to Place Hezbollah’s Weapons Under State Authority as Part of National Understanding
The Lebanese political scene is witnessing a notable development regarding the issue of placing all weapons under state authority, marked by positive exchanges between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah. Aoun confirmed that Hezbollah is showing flexibility within a set timeline to address the matter, with political circles around the presidency expressing satisfaction, as Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri paves the way for ongoing dialogue.
New Political Reality
MP Hassan Fadlallah from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc announced Hezbollah’s willingness to engage in a dialogue on a national defense strategy with an open mind, provided it is preceded by a halt to Israeli violations and a withdrawal of its forces from the South. A well-informed source noted that the party is not engaging in a game of role distribution as critics suggest, affirming that Hezbollah’s positions stem from understandings with the President and are not contingent on the outcome of U.S.-Iranian negotiations.
The source emphasized Hezbollah’s understanding of the new political reality and its readiness to respond to the demand of placing weapons under state control—on the condition that the process is implemented in stages. Accelerating progress, the source said, hinges on U.S. pressure on Israel to stop its violations, withdraw from southern Lebanon, and release Lebanese detainees.
Security Coordination and Continuous Communication with the Presidency
The source also confirmed the continuation of communication channels between Hezbollah and President Aoun, revealing the role of retired Brigadier General Andre Rahal, a presidential adviser, in maintaining ongoing contact with Hezbollah officials. This facilitates intervention to address emerging issues, whether in areas south or north of the Litani River. The party has expressed willingness to cooperate with the Lebanese Army north of the Litani, in light of increased security measures, including aerial surveillance by Lebanese Air Force Cessna aircraft to prevent the area from being used to launch rockets.
Internal and International Pressure
The source concluded by noting that addressing the gap caused by Israeli violations of UN Resolution 1701 topped the agenda during meetings between U.S. official Morgan Ortagus and Lebanon’s three top leaders. Bridging this gap is essential to generate the political momentum needed for the dialogue to lead to exclusive state control over arms. While Washington has not provided a specific timeline for disarming non-state groups, Lebanon is pressing for the full implementation of the resolution in parallel with financial reforms aimed at securing foreign aid and launching the country’s reconstruction efforts.
