Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah, President Aoun Declares
“Beirut is demanding the extension of the Lebanese state's authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups, including Hezbollah, and their handover to the Lebanese army,” he said during a speech.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday declared his government’s determination to disarm all armed groups in the country, including Hezbollah, in a bold statement marking Army Day — a move likely to escalate internal divisions and regional tensions.
According to AFP, Aoun stressed the need to extend the authority of the Lebanese state across its entire territory and to consolidate a national monopoly on the use of weapons.
“Beirut is demanding the extension of the Lebanese state's authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups, including Hezbollah, and their handover to the Lebanese army,” he said during a speech.
Aoun’s remarks came just a day after Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem fiercely rejected any calls for disarmament, accusing those advocating for it of aligning with Israeli interests.
“Anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project,” Qassem said.
Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organization by several Western countries, is the only faction to have retained its weapons following Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, according to AFP. The group has grown into a powerful political and military force, but its influence has become increasingly controversial amid rising domestic and international pressure.
The United States, in particular, has pushed Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah’s military wing. Aoun alluded to this pressure in his address, calling on political leaders to “seize this historic opportunity” and support the army in assuming full control of security.
“We have to push without hesitation towards affirming the army and security forces' monopoly on weapons over all Lebanese territory... to regain the world's confidence,” he said.
He also issued a warning against provocation from any side, underscoring Lebanon’s precarious position amid repeated Israeli strikes. Despite a ceasefire agreement in November, Israel continues to target Hezbollah positions, vowing to continue operations until the group is disarmed.
Aoun, however, sought to strike a conciliatory tone with Hezbollah’s supporters, describing them as an “essential pillar” of society. “For the thousandth time, I assure you that my concern in having a (state) weapons monopoly comes from my concern to defend Lebanon's sovereignty and borders, to liberate the occupied Lebanese territories and build a state that welcomes all its citizens,” he said.
Lebanon now faces a critical juncture, with the future of Hezbollah’s armed presence potentially reshaping the country’s political and security landscape.
