Hezbollah is facing mounting political pressure and internal debate over its weapons as Lebanon’s government moves ahead with a US-backed plan to disarm the group by the end of 2025, a deadline that could redefine the country’s balance of power. Rudaw’s Hevidar Ahmed visited the country to explore the future of Hezbollah and what it means for its supporters.
The government, under international mediation, has endorsed the proposal to establish the state’s monopoly over arms. But Hezbollah, weakened by the loss of top commanders and repeated Israeli strikes, continues to reject disarmament as a concession to Israeli interests.
“We will only hand over our arms to Allah almighty. None other than him,” Hezbollah lawmaker Ihab Hamadeh, told Rudaw, dismissing the government’s plan. He warned that any attempt to disarm the group before Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories would destabilize the country. “There will be no more army. It will fall, it will be gone, finished,” he said, adding that Israel “must be erased from existence.”
Lebanese officials acknowledge the fragile state of the armed forces, which have been under strain since the country’s economic collapse in 2019. “It is true that Lebanon is grappling with economic hardships. However, the armed forces are the ones bearing the brunt the most,” said Adnan Mur’ab, a Lebanese military officer. “The army should remain strong so that the Lebanese state and its institutions can survive. But the government should end corruption in this country.