Hezbollah is not ready to hand over its arms, Walla news site reported Wednesday, citing a report by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hadath news site.
Hezbollah in Lebanon has remained stubborn in the face of calls to hand over arms, according to a series of recent reports.
Hezbollah has faced some challenges since Israel defeated it militarily last year. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the IAF continues to carry out airstrikes against Hezbollah.
It is not clear if these limited strikes will actually cause Hezbollah to disarm. In fact, Hezbollah appears to be trying to wait things out.
“Hezbollah has made it clear to its ally, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, that it is not willing to surrender its weapons even if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon,” Walla reported. “The Lebanese state is furious with Hezbollah in light of this position – and the organization is even ready to confront it, according to sources in a report by the Saudi newspaper Al-Hadath.”
Hezbollah recently would have been keenly listening to the words of US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who was in Lebanon this week. The US is trying to use its influence to move forward with Lebanon, he said, adding that the US cannot compel any of the sides to do anything.
That means it is up to Lebanon to deal with Hezbollah. Therefore, Israel will also continue its airstrikes.
Hezbollah is posing as if it cannot make a decision regarding key issues in Lebanon. It is not involved with reconstruction, and it will not disarm.
“Sources also clarified that Berri told the US envoy to Lebanon and Syria, Thomas Barak, that he could not guarantee that he would be able to leave Hezbollah’s weapons north of the Litani River before the end of the year – even if Israel withdraws from Lebanon,” Walla reported.
Lebanese leadership wants to disarm Hezbollah without rocking the boat
Lebanese leaders want to say they are moving forward. Nevertheless, the government recently released men who had been detained for parading with arms.
In essence, Lebanon is trying to not rock the boat.
Dialogue would continue, according to a separate report by Beirut-based Al Akhbar newspaper, which is pro-Hezbollah. “US envoy to Beirut, Tom Barrack, considered that restricting the possession of weapons to the state is essential for Lebanon’s stability, noting that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is ‘making efforts to resolve the situation,’” the report said.
“The time has come to come together on a complex issue,” Barak said after visiting Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai in Bkerke, the report said.
“President Trump wants Lebanon to succeed, and I came to Beirut representing the US president on a visit to offer advice,” he was quoted as saying. “We have been working on a solution for four weeks. It is a complex process, and I understand the difficulties.”