Lebanon Accelerates Steps to Restrict Weapons to the State Amid Hezbollah Opposition and Iranian Warnings
The Lebanese government continues its discussions regarding the issue of restricting weapons to the state, as part of its efforts to implement a clear timeline, after assigning the army to prepare an executive proposal expected to be delivered before the end of August, according to what "Reuters" reported.
Tensions have escalated with Hezbollah's announcement of its firm rejection of the government's decision, describing it in an official statement as a "great sin," while Lebanese Minister of Displaced Persons Kamel Shhada stated in a comment to "Al Arabiya" that "the government will not back down from its decision to restrict weapons to the state."
Local parties did not stop at responding, but the confrontation extended to the regional level, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned against the failure of any attempt to disarm Hezbollah, considering that the party has "full capability to defend itself," in a statement interpreted as a hint of Tehran's support for the party.
In a related context, media outlets revealed informed sources about the content of the American paper being discussed, which divides the disarmament process into a specific timeline.
The first phase aims to prepare the Lebanese army with a comprehensive plan for disarming Hezbollah and other "militias," to be presented to the Cabinet for approval before the end of this month.
As for the second phase, it includes the implementation of a comprehensive disarmament process for all types of weapons, starting from drones and shells to hand grenades, with half of these weapons to be dismantled within the first thirty days, and completing the process in the second half of this phase which extends for 60 days. In return, Israel will begin withdrawing from three border points in southern Lebanon.
The plan concludes with a third phase focusing on completing the Israeli withdrawal, launching negotiations on detainee files and reconstruction, along with settling the outstanding border disputes between the two countries.
Estimates indicate that the Lebanese government seeks to approve the executive mechanisms of the plan as soon as possible, aiming to complete the entire process before the end of the current year, in a step aimed at closing the chapter on illegal weapons and enhancing the state's sovereignty.
