Hezbollah's stark dismissal of the Lebanese government's arms control plan highlights the complex relationship between state authority and non-state actors in Lebanon, alongside the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
Hezbollah Rejects Lebanese Government's Arms Control Initiative as "Grave Sin"
Hezbollah Rejects Lebanese Government's Arms Control Initiative as "Grave Sin"
Hezbollah labels Lebanon's push for arms control a major transgression, asserting its aim to maintain independence despite international pressure.
Hezbollah has sharply criticized the Lebanese government's recent initiative to regulate arms by labeling it "a grave sin," signaling its intent to disregard any mandate aimed at confining arms supply exclusively to state forces. The Iranian-backed militant group stated it would treat the government's decision, which tasks the army with creating a state monopoly on arms, as non-existent.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Hezbollah condemned the Lebanese cabinet's move as a reaction to what it termed American "diktats." This response underscores Hezbollah's resistance to pressures for disarmament, which has escalated amid mounting international scrutiny surrounding its military capabilities.
Despite previous setbacks resulting from last year's conflict with Israel, Hezbollah continues to assert its strategic autonomy and availability for dialogue regarding national security, provided the discussions do not come across as aggressive. This was underscored by the remarks from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who indicated that the military would be presenting a plan for the control of arms by the end of the month.
The backdrop includes a June proposal from American officials suggesting Hezbollah disarm in exchange for a cessation of Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon, where tensions remain high following a ceasefire agreement brokered in November. Leading Hezbollah figure Naim Qassem, addressing the situation during the cabinet meeting, emphasized that any negotiations surrounding the group's weaponry would be contingent on a cessation of Israeli attacks, which Hezbollah accuses of violating ceasefire terms.
Despite sustaining losses and being diminished in military influence, Hezbollah maintains substantial backing among Lebanon's Shia population. The push for disarmament not only risks intensifying dissent among supporters but could also provoke broader instability in a country scarred by memories of its civil war from 1975 to 1990.
