Hezbollah Defies Disarmament Demands, Deepening Lebanon’s Political Crisis

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

This stance has stalled diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and has heightened tensions within the Lebanese political establishment. US envoy Thomas Barrack has acknowledged Washington cannot force Israel to act or compel Hezbollah to disarm, emphasizing that the issue is a domestic Lebanese matter. 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 threatens Lebanon’s stability and complicates prospects for peace with Israel.