Illustrative image.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on April 20 that disarming Hezbollah is a “delicate” matter whose implementation required the right circumstances, warning that forcing the issue could lead the country to ruin.
Speaking to reporters, Aoun stressed that restricting the bearing of arms to the state is “a sensitive, delicate issue that is fundamental to preserving civil peace” and requires due “consideration and responsibility.”
“We will implement” a state monopoly on bearing arms “but we have to wait for the circumstances” to allow this, he said, noting that “nobody is speaking to me about timing or pressure.”
“Any controversial domestic issue in Lebanon can only be approached through conciliatory, non-confrontational dialogue and communication. If not, we will lead Lebanon to ruin,” he added.
Lebanon has been facing increasing pressure from the United States to disarm Hezbollah, with Washington’s Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus going as far as describing the group as “cancer” during a visit to Beirut earlier this month.
Israel has also stepped up its strikes on Lebanon in recent weeks, challenging the ceasefire brokered by the U.S. last November ceasefire that ended over a year of fighting with Hezbollah.
The Lebanese military has been making efforts to enforce the ceasefire from its side. On April 20, it foiled a plot to launch rockets at Israel. Hezbollah was not involved in the plot. Still, multiple Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, destroying alleged infrastructure of the group and killing one of its senior members.
Earlier this month, Hezbollah showed willingness to discuss the future of its arsenal with the Lebanese president. Nevertheless, the continued escalation by Israel has apparently caused the group to reconsider the move.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem vowed in a televised speech on April 18 that the group “will not let anyone disarm” it.
Qassem said his group was ready for dialogue on a “defense strategy,” “but not under the pressure of occupation” by Israel.
Whether Hezbollah engages in talks with Aoun on the matter or not, Israel appears to be planning to renew the war on Lebanon.
Last month, Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, in the Gaza Strip, shattering a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. last January for no clear reason. Since then, the Israeli military has made major gains in the Palestinian enclave without facing much resistance. Thus it is logical to expect Israel to repeat the scenario in Lebanon. Hezbollah apparently understands this and is preparing for the worst.
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disarming hezbollah wont stop israel from bombing lebanon relentlessly nor will it stop them from invading and occupying lebanese land that they will flood with state sponsored settlers. disaeming hezbollah is thus the end of lebanese statehood and the beginning of israeli expansionism wars to drive the lebanese from their homeland that the jews annex into greater israel.
we have seen what the zionists did to syria and how its still and even more then before being bombed even after assad was driven out by israels proxies and shabbosgoy turkish helpers.
problem is that lebanese prime minister gets promises like millions of dollars and safety guarantees for himself. so he doesn’t care about lebanon.
iran couldn’t save syria…they can’t save hezbollah…
the “axis of resistance”…heheheh
idf member joseph aoun serves his peoples homes up to greater israel . perhaps hezbollah should send him some missiles ?