Powder Point: Hezbollah is ready for dialogue on disarmament

Hezbollah does not perceive the disarmament process as a threat and can resolve this issue exclusively through political means. This was reported to Izvestia by a source close to the movement. At the same time, the Shiite formation is open to interaction with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the army of the republic. The leader of the movement, Naim Kasem, declared full mutual understanding with the Armed Forces of the country. Earlier it was reported that Hezbollah handed over 190 of its positions to the military, and more than 500 movement facilities were dismantled. Despite this, Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon.

How is Hezbollah's disarmament going?

A new chapter in the long-standing history of relations between the State and the armed Shiite movement Hezbollah may begin in Lebanon. As a source close to the formation told Izvestia, it does not consider the disarmament process as a threat and is ready to discuss the transfer of weapons exclusively in the political and diplomatic plane.

"No one has threatened us by force, and no one will do it," the source told Izvestia. — All issues will be resolved through dialogue. We do not view President Joseph Aoun or the Lebanese army negatively. On the contrary, we are ready for contact and search for solutions.

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem commented on the situation in the same vein. According to him, there is "mutual understanding and cooperation" between the movement and the country's armed forces. "We and the army are in the same trench against Israel," he said. "The president is the first person who should determine the mechanism for starting a dialogue, and we are ready to participate in this process at the appropriate time."

The relationship between Hezbollah and Lebanese government structures has been the subject of controversy for decades. After the end of the civil war in 1990, all other armed groups were disarmed, but Hezbollah retained its military wing under the pretext of resisting the Israeli occupation of the south of the country. The movement later developed into one of the most powerful unofficial military forces in the Middle East, with an arsenal that surpassed the capabilities of the Lebanese army.

Despite international pressure and promises of reform, the Lebanese authorities have been unable to restore their monopoly on the use of force for three decades. Hezbollah operated in parallel with the army — and often more effectively. The number of fighters of the movement was twice the number of military personnel in the Armed Forces.

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The army intends to remain in five positions in the south of the republic

However, the fighting against Israel and the change of power in Syria have put the movement in a difficult position. The regime of Bashar al-Assad has long served as Hezbollah's logistical and strategic rear. At the same time, international initiatives to restore statehood in Lebanon have intensified. The United States, France and Saudi Arabia have come up with a consolidated position: the country needs new leadership and new principles of governance. The result was the election of a new president and prime minister.

In January 2025, Joseph Aoun, the former commander—in-chief of the army, who enjoys authority in society, took over the post of head of state. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is a diplomat with international experience. The new tandem immediately outlined its priorities: restoring order, restoring economic stability, and returning weapons to army control.

"The state should be the sole bearer of legitimate force on its territory," Aung said shortly after the inauguration.

The situation in southern Lebanon

The first steps have already been taken on the ground: the army has begun to eliminate tunnels created by Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley and in the south of the country. Weapons were seized from dozens of warehouses. At the same time, the security forces act without the use of force — with the consent of local structures.

According to sources from the France-Presse news agency, Hezbollah voluntarily handed over 190 of its positions to the military. It is important that the actions take place in full agreement with the new political leadership, which makes it possible to avoid exacerbations.

However, the process is still far from over. The movement still has significant resources and influence on the Lebanese political system. The continued occupation of southern Lebanese territories by Israel gives Hezbollah the opportunity not to rush to disarm, which is considered the only force capable of repelling the Israeli threat.

The IDF maintains a presence in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon along the Israeli border, which causes outrage in Beirut. In addition, the Israeli army periodically launches airstrikes in southern Lebanon. Israeli Ambassador to Russia Simone Halperin previously told Izvestia that the withdrawal of Israeli troops could be postponed if the Lebanese authorities did not fulfill their obligations to ensure security in the border areas.

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A new wave of discussions arose after the visit to Beirut of the Deputy Special Envoy of the US President to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, on April 4. In an interview with LBCI TV channel, she stressed that Washington consistently raises the issue of the need to disarm all illegal formations. According to Ortagus, only the army should maintain a monopoly on the use of force. When asked about the timing, the diplomat said: "As soon as possible."

Jamal Wakim, a professor at the Lebanese University, believes that the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament is being promoted at the initiative of the United States.

— This is not new. Some Lebanese forces support the Americans and demand the disarmament of the resistance," he explained in an interview with Izvestia.

According to the expert, the President of the Republic can count on a regional detente between Iran and the United States, which, in turn, could lead to a settlement that removes disputes over Hezbollah weapons from the agenda.

Since the ceasefire agreement came into force on November 27, 2024, the Lebanese army has dismantled more than 500 facilities belonging to Hezbollah and other armed groups in the south of the country, the Washington Post reported. We are talking about both weapons depots and missile launchers.

According to the terms of the cease—fire, Hezbollah was obliged to withdraw its fighters and military infrastructure beyond the Litani River, which is about 30 km north of the Israeli border. This step was supposed to deprive the movement of the opportunity to continue its military presence in southern Lebanon. Instead, units of the Lebanese army are being deployed to the area, whose task is to prevent the restoration of the positions of the Shiite movement.

Since November, the army has sent additional forces to the south of the country — more than 1.5 thousand troops have been deployed to the border with Israel. Thus, the total number of military personnel in the area reached 6 thousand people. According to the Washington Post, about 4 thousand more soldiers are under training and will also be sent to the southern regions in the near future.