Lebanese army chief stresses dialogue as key to disarming Hezbollah

The commander of the Lebanese army, General Rodoplhe Haykal, has emphasised that any plan to disarm armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, must be carried out peacefully and without bloodshed.

According to an Arabic newspaper, General Haykal made it clear that he would not support a forced approach to the process. “I would rather resign than agree to such a scenario,” the army chief said, stressing that “the disarmament process requires dialogue and mutual understanding; it cannot be achieved by force.”

The newspaper reports that the Lebanese Armed Forces Command is set to present a comprehensive schedule for the transfer of weapons from non-governmental armed groups to the army during a cabinet meeting on September 2. Under the proposed plan, the process is expected to conclude by the end of the year.

The plan reportedly foresees a phased approach:

• The first stage will take place in southern Lebanon, in the area between the Litani and Awali rivers.

• The second phase will cover the Bekaa Valley and the city of Baalbek in the east.

• The final phase will extend to the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Both the United States and Saudi Arabia have been pressuring Lebanese authorities to accelerate the disarmament process. Washington and Riyadh are said to be insisting on the swift implementation of conditions laid out by US envoy Tom Barrack, who is mediating border-related negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. They have warned that any delay could lead to the postponement of an international donor conference aimed at securing substantial financial assistance for Lebanon.

The publication also reported that, during a recent meeting with General Haykal, the American envoy offered to share intelligence with the Lebanese military on the locations of secret Hezbollah facilities within the country. Barrack also reportedly indicated that “military support” from Israel could be available if necessary.

By Tamilla Hasanova