Lebanon's Tough Task: Disarming Hezbollah

Lebanon Faces Pressure to Disarm Hezbollah

Lebanon is in a tough spot. The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, recently stated that Lebanon must follow through on its promise to disarm Hezbollah and remove them from southern Lebanon. This demand comes as Israel continues to target Hezbollah in the south.

Recent Escalations

Israel's military reported that they killed four Hezbollah members recently. This is not new. Even after a truce was brokered by the U.S. in November 2024, which ended over a year of fighting between Lebanon and Israel, Israel has kept up its strikes.

Ceasefire Agreement and Its Challenges

The ceasefire agreement stated that only Lebanon's official security forces should have weapons. This means Hezbollah should be disarmed. But this is easier said than done. Lebanon has been under pressure from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and even Hezbollah's rivals within Lebanon to make this happen.

Lebanese Army's Efforts

Lebanese army sources said they have destroyed so many Hezbollah weapon stashes that they are running out of explosives. But they have to be careful. They don't want to make the situation worse inside the country.

Hezbollah's Decline and Current Stance

Hezbollah was once the dominant political party in Lebanon. But last year's war with Israel took a toll. Thousands of fighters and their longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, were killed. The war also resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 women and children and destroyed large parts of Lebanon's south and east.

Hezbollah has said they support the ceasefire. They haven't opposed the seizures of their weapon caches in the south. They also haven't fired on Israel since the truce. But they have made it clear that disarmament only applies to the south. They have hinted that conflict could happen if the state tries to take action against them.