Lebanon at crossroads as Hezbollah rejects disarmament and UNIFIL debate

Lebanon finds itself at a precarious crossroads as Hezbollah’s leadership rejects disarmament while the government pursues a plan to center security in state hands, a move that has drawn strong warnings of potential upheaval. At the same time, the United Nations is weighing a renewed mandate for UN peacekeepers in the south, with Western allies split over how quickly to wind down the long-running mission. The convergence of these dynamics underscores Lebanon’s fragile balance between state sovereignty, insurgent influence and broader regional pressures.

In a televised address marking a Shiite religious observance, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem delivered a blunt rebuke to those pressing for disarmament. He warned that attempts to confine weapons to official security forces would “leave no life in Lebanon,” and insisted the group would not surrender its arms while what it described as ongoing aggression and occupation persist. Qassem suggested that while some in Beirut want to push ahead with a plan to restrict arms, the resistance would respond with continued readiness and, if necessary, a long struggle. The remarks were echoed by Hezbollah allies who warned that any...