Hezbollah warns Lebanese government disarming group could spark civil war
A senior Hezbollah official has warned that the push by the Lebanese government to disarm the group as part of a US-backed plan outlined in the November 2024 ceasefire agreement following Israel’s devastating war on the country could lead to chaos and potentially spark a civil war.
Mahmoud Qmati, a senior political official with Hezbollah, warned on Wednesday that “the path taken by the Lebanese government and state institutions will lead Lebanon to instability, chaos, and perhaps even civil war.”
In an interview with Russia’s state-owned RT television, Qmati described the government's effort to enforce a state monopoly on arms north of the Litani River as “the biggest crime committed by the state.”
Qmati noted that Hezbollah, however, would not be dragged into a confrontation with the Lebanese army.
“There will be no talk or dialogue about any situation north of the Litani River before Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territory, liberates the South and the prisoners, and stops its violations against Lebanon,” the senior Hezbollah official added.
The Beirut government has pledged to bring all arms in Lebanon under state control. However, Hezbollah maintains that this measure applies specifically to the southernmost region of Lebanon, which borders the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Last week, the Lebanese army announced it had assumed operational control of the area between the Litani River and the border with Israeli-occupied lands.
Hezbollah has stated that Israeli troops must pull out of five hilltop positions they occupy in southern Lebanon, halt near-daily airstrikes on Lebanon, and release Lebanese hostages before any further disarmament is discussed.
Since the ceasefire took effect last year, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese citizens, effectively breaking the truce.
Under the agreement, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January. However, the withdrawal has been partial, with Israeli forces maintaining a military presence at five border outposts, further violating the terms of the ceasefire.
On December 18, French, Saudi Arabian, and American representatives convened in Paris with the leader of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to discuss and finalize a roadmap aimed at establishing a mechanism for disarming Hezbollah.
The resistance group maintains it will not disarm while Israel occupies southern Lebanon and carries out attacks in the region.
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