Hezbollah declared its intent to ignore a recent governmental decision that seeks to impose a state monopoly on weapons. In a statement issued Wednesday, the group stressed that the directive from Lebanon's cabinet was rejected outright and described it as a "grave sin." This defiance comes amid increasing international demands for the group's disarmament, especially following the diminished status it faced during last year's conflict with Israel.
The Lebanese cabinet's recent directive calls for the military to draft a plan ensuring all weapons are controlled by state forces by the end of the year. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that this plan would be presented to the cabinet by the end of the month for further consideration. Hezbollah's leadership, represented by Naim Qassem, vehemently maintains that discussions regarding their arsenal cannot take place while Israeli military actions continue, asserting that these actions breach an existing ceasefire agreement.
The backdrop to this confrontation includes previous diplomatic efforts led by American officials, who suggested that Hezbollah's full disarmament could lead to a cessation of Israeli military operations and the withdrawal of troops from occupied territories in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, despite being significantly weakened, continues to hold substantial support within Lebanon's Shia community, complicating any potential dialogue on disarmament amidst lingering memories of the Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990.
The Lebanese cabinet's recent directive calls for the military to draft a plan ensuring all weapons are controlled by state forces by the end of the year. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that this plan would be presented to the cabinet by the end of the month for further consideration. Hezbollah's leadership, represented by Naim Qassem, vehemently maintains that discussions regarding their arsenal cannot take place while Israeli military actions continue, asserting that these actions breach an existing ceasefire agreement.
The backdrop to this confrontation includes previous diplomatic efforts led by American officials, who suggested that Hezbollah's full disarmament could lead to a cessation of Israeli military operations and the withdrawal of troops from occupied territories in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, despite being significantly weakened, continues to hold substantial support within Lebanon's Shia community, complicating any potential dialogue on disarmament amidst lingering memories of the Lebanese civil war from 1975 to 1990.
