Hezbollah informs Lebanese government of formal refusal to surrender weapons report by Al Arabiya

Lebanon’s political and military organisation Hezbollah has informed the Lebanese government of its refusal to disarm, rejecting calls to surrender its weapons.

This development was reported by Al Arabiya, as cited by Caliber.Az, based on information from an unnamed source.

According to the report, the Iran-backed group conveyed its position to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, affirming it would not give up its arms even if Israel withdraws from disputed territories. Hezbollah also indicated it is prepared for confrontation if that is the direction the Lebanese state chooses to take.

The report adds that Speaker Berri has informed US Special Envoy Tom Barrack that Lebanon cannot ensure Hezbollah’s disarmament north of the Litani River.

Sources told Al Arabiya that this stance has not been welcomed by all within the Lebanese leadership, where officials have described Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm as a “missed opportunity” for resolving the longstanding weapons issue.

Despite Hezbollah’s position, the Lebanese government remains committed to its pledge of ensuring all arms are under state control, according to the same sources.

In recent weeks, the United States has increased pressure on Lebanon’s new leadership to take steps regarding Hezbollah’s arsenal, especially after the group’s capabilities were diminished by last year’s conflict with Israel.

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack — Donald Trump’s designated envoy on Syrian affairs and the current US ambassador to Türkiye — has visited Lebanon multiple times, most recently this week, to discuss a national roadmap focused on disarmament.

During a meeting earlier this week with Barrack, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun presented a “draft comprehensive memorandum for implementing Lebanon’s pledges” made since the ceasefire, according to an official statement from the presidency.

As the article recalls, the current situation follows last year’s war between Hezbollah and Israel, which significantly weakened the group. That conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement stipulating that Hezbollah withdraw its forces north of the Litani River — approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border — leaving only the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers armed in the region. Under the agreement, Israel was also expected to pull its forces out of Lebanon, but, as Al Arabiyya reports, has maintained a presence in five areas it considers strategically important.

By Nazrin Sadigova