Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Hezbollah has demonstrated significant “flexibility and willingness to cooperate” in addressing the issue of its weapons under a certain timetable.
Aoun’s statement on Thursday came in the wake of US envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit and increased American pressure to ensure that all weapons on Lebanese territory are under the control of legitimate state authorities.
Following a meeting between the National Moderation Bloc and Aoun at Baabda Palace, MP Sajih Attieh stated that the discussion touched on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
He emphasized that the president is handling the matter with great wisdom and confirmed Hezbollah’s openness to a phased and cooperative approach.
Aoun expressed optimism, suggesting that the party’s positive stance should be met with understanding and a realistic outlook, given the current situation in the country.
Earlier, Asharq Al-Awsat reported exclusively that Aoun, in coordination with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, would lead direct talks with Hezbollah. These talks would explore not only the transfer of arms to state control but also strategies to integrate Hezbollah’s military assets and address its political concerns.
This week, media reports citing unnamed Hezbollah sources claimed the group was willing to hand over its heavy weapons north of the Litani River - including drones, missiles, and anti-tank systems - if Israel withdraws from occupied Lebanese territories.
However, Hezbollah later issued a statement denying the reports and asserting that only official spokespeople represent the party’s position.
Resolution 1701 as a Benchmark
Hezbollah has not officially engaged in disarmament talks but frames the weapons discussion within the context of “defense and national protection.” Its lawmakers have expressed conditional openness to negotiations - only after full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory and an end to violations of the ceasefire.
MP Raed Berro told local station LBCI that any future conversation about the group’s arms must occur within the framework of a national defense strategy and broader strategic security goals.
In a press conference held at the Lebanese Parliament on Thursday, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah reiterated that the Lebanese government is responsible for taking formal steps to end Israeli aggression and upholding the national policy statement. He insisted that stopping Israel’s violations of Lebanese sovereignty should be a priority for the government.
Fadlallah urged a “serious national dialogue” focused on addressing the Israeli threat and achieving a collective defense strategy.
He accused the Israeli army of committing war crimes against unarmed civilians, actions he claimed occurred under the watch of the United Nations and the ceasefire monitoring committee.
He also denied claims about arms smuggling through the Port of Beirut, calling such allegations unfounded.
