Hezbollah Defies Disarmament Demands, Threatening Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Hezbollah has firmly rejected calls from the Lebanese government and international actors, including the US, to surrender its weapons, insisting it will not disarm even if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon.

This stance has heightened tensions within Lebanon and complicated efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire with Israel. US envoy Thomas Barrack has acknowledged that Washington cannot force Israel to act or compel Hezbollah to disarm, underscoring the limits of American influence in the region. The Lebanese government is under pressure to assert a monopoly on arms, but faces internal divisions and Hezbollah's continued military strength.

The deadlock threatens both Lebanon's internal stability and prospects for peace with Israel.