Lebanon Backs Plan to Disarm Hezbollah Amid Ongoing Clashes with Israel

Lebanon confirmed a proposal to disarm Hezbollah, a senior US envoy announced this week, in what is seen as part of a broader effort by the United States to stabilize the country after years of economic and political turmoil, the Associated Press reported. 

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack said he was “unbelievably satisfied” with the Lebanese response to Washington’s proposal to disarm the Shiite militant group after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut. 

Barrack did not disclose details of the response.  

The US proposal, submitted last month, calls for Hezbollah to fully disarm within four months in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from five occupied positions in southern Lebanon and an end to airstrikes. It also includes US support for economic reforms to help pull Lebanon out of its six-year financial crisis. 

Lebanon has been grappling with years of political and economic crisis driven by decades of corruption and mismanagement. With new leadership in power and Hezbollah weakened by its fight with Israel, many in the region and elsewhere are hoping the country can turn things around. 

While Barrack said both Israel and Lebanon back a “stand-down agreement,” Hezbollah has yet to formally respond to the plan. The Iran-backed group has insisted it will not disarm until Israel fully withdraws from southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera noted. 

Barrack acknowledged that Hezbollah would need guarantees to remain politically active in Lebanon under any disarmament deal. 

The proposal comes as Israeli operations continue in southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah in November. 

Fighting between the two sides began shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Hezbollah launched attacks in solidarity with Hamas, but by September 2024, the conflict had escalated into full-scale war. 

More than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, including much of Hezbollah’s leadership and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. In Israel, the war has killed 127 people, including 80 soldiers. 

Since the ceasefire, Lebanese officials say at least 250 people have been killed and more than 600 have been injured by Israeli strikes. Israel says its operations are defensive and aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rearming.