Hezbollah divided over US pressure on disarmament

Hezbollah is weighing a US proposal that would see the group surrender its weapons within months in exchange for financial aid and a halt to Israeli attacks, according to The National on July 4th.

Facing mounting US pressure and relentless Israeli air strikes, Hezbollah’s leadership is reportedly divided over whether to accept the offer. The plan — described by US envoy Thomas Barrack as a “carrot and a stick” in The New York Times — proposes disarmament starting south of the Litani River, with Israel withdrawing from five occupied positions.

Since October 8th 2023, Hezbollah engaged in border clashes with Israeli forces, which escalated into full-scale fighting before a ceasefire was brokered by the US and France in November.

Lebanese officials say they have dismantled most of Hezbollah’s positions near the border, yet Israeli strikes persist as reported by Maghrebi via Al-Monitor on July 1st. The UN recorded at least 71 civilian deaths and Lebanese authorities claim over 3,000 ceasefire violations by Israel.

The push for Hezbollah disarmament comes as Iran’s regional influence recedes, while the group is weakened militarily, financially, and politically. Once a dominant force backed by Iran and Syria’s Bashar Al Assad, Hezbollah now grapples with supply routes that have been cut.

President Joseph Aoun, supported by Washington, has pledged to reassert state control over all arms through dialogue.

But analysts warn that dismantling Hezbollah without addressing Lebanon’s internal divisions could destabilise the country. “For Washington, the internal complexities Lebanon faces in attempting to disarm Hezbollah are secondary; the focus is on safeguarding Israel,” a source told The National.

The National, The New York Times, Maghrebi.org via Al-Monitor