Lebanon approaches turning point on Hezbollah disarmament

Lebanon is approaching a turning point as its cabinet prepares to officially discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah on August 5th. The session will follow a speech by President Joseph Aoun scheduled for August 1st, according to The National on July 30th.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for the cabinet meeting to finalise discussions around “the extension of state sovereignty over all its territories” and the exclusivity of arms—which implicitly targets Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups’ disarmament.

However, it remains uncertain whether the cabinet will reach a formal decision, especially given that several members are affiliated with or supportive of Hezbollah and its allies.

“The Council of Ministers will focus on how to implement arms exclusivity,” a source close to Salam said, while noting that a clear strategy is yet to be determined. They said they were not sure “if there will be a vote or if there will be a decision by agreement. We will wait and see.”

This debate is unfolding under increasing pressure from the United States, which has called for Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah. While President Aoun and his government have publicly stated that this is their goal, they have cautioned that a poorly handled process could further destabilise the already fragile political and security landscape.

The once unthinkable prospect of Hezbollah’s disarmament has entered political debate following the group’s recent conflict with Israel, which has significantly weakened its position. For the first time in years, there is room for renewed discussions on a national defence strategy. Yet Hezbollah remains firm in rejecting any talk of disarmament while Israel continues to bombard Lebanese territory and occupy five disputed border points.

On the night of July 30th, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem is expected to deliver a speech marking the first anniversary of the assassination of top military commander Fouad Shukr. Shukr’s death was followed by the killings of other senior Hezbollah figures, including long-serving Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

US envoy Tom Barrack has made repeated visits to Beirut, pressing for the disarmament issue to be addressed. He warned that Lebanon risks marginalisation in a shifting regional order if it fails to undertake reforms and rein in Hezbollah’s military power. Major international donors have echoed these demands, tying crucial economic aid to progress on security and governance reforms.

The National, Maghrebi.org