Hezbollah Defies Disarmament Demands, Threatening Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Hezbollah has firmly rejected calls from both the Lebanese government and international actors, including the US, to surrender its weapons, even if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon.

This stance has heightened tensions within Lebanon and complicated efforts to reinforce a fragile ceasefire with Israel. US envoy Tom Barrack has emphasized that Washington cannot force Israel to act and that disarmament is ultimately a Lebanese issue, but diplomatic efforts have so far yielded no breakthrough. The Lebanese government, under pressure to assert a monopoly on arms, faces internal divisions and external skepticism about its ability to rein in Hezbollah.

The deadlock raises concerns about Lebanon's stability and the prospects for lasting peace along its southern border.