Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Tensions are rising in Lebanon amid renewed calls to disarm Hezbollah, with the group’s political wing, the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, strongly condemning what it describes as “desperate attempts” to undermine the country’s defense capabilities. At the heart of the controversy is a government initiative backed by international pressure to restrict all arms to the Lebanese Army, effectively ending Hezbollah’s military presence.
In a press conference held on Wednesday, the bloc firmly rejected the proposed disarmament, warning that such efforts would serve only to benefit Israel and leave Lebanon exposed. “These attempts are a free gift to the Israeli enemy,” the bloc said, emphasizing that the resistance’s arsenal represents one of the most crucial pillars of national strength particularly in light of “ongoing Zionist violations of Lebanese sovereignty and the daily assassinations targeting civilians and resistance fighters alike.”
The statement underscored that opposition to the government’s stance is not limited to Hezbollah. According to the bloc, a wide array of political forces including the so-called “national duo” (Hezbollah and Amal Movement), as well as other parties, independents, and figures from all sects, stand united in rejecting what they describe as a “conspiracy” to strip Lebanon of its ability to defend itself. These groups argue that with Israel intensifying its aggression, and with no reliable alternative defense mechanism in place, now is the worst possible time to pursue disarmament.
The bloc accused the Lebanese government of caving to American pressure, thereby undermining the country’s sovereignty. “The government has unfortunately slid into responding to U.S. demands that clearly align with Israeli interests and push Lebanon toward a form of foreign guardianship,” the bloc declared.
Calling for a course correction, Hezbollah’s parliamentary representatives urged the government to prioritize national interests above foreign agendas and to fully activate the country’s diplomatic channels described as “lethargic” to pressure Israel into complying with the ceasefire agreement. Lebanon, the bloc claimed, has honored its obligations under the agreement, while Israel has yet to implement any of its provisions.
Furthermore, the bloc called for the launch of an urgent national initiative to formulate a comprehensive security and defense strategy—one that guarantees Lebanon’s ability to protect its territory, sovereignty, and citizens without relying on external guarantees that have historically proven unreliable.
The political storm follows recent remarks by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who announced that the Lebanese Army has been tasked with drafting an actionable plan to monopolize the country’s weapons arsenal by the end of the year. Notably, Salam avoided directly mentioning Hezbollah, but the implications of the plan were unmistakable.
In response, Hezbollah issued a sharp rebuke. In a statement released on Wednesday, the group said it would treat the government’s disarmament initiative as “nonexistent,” signaling a complete refusal to engage with any effort aimed at curtailing its military wing.
The confrontation comes amid persistent instability along Lebanon’s southern border, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in intermittent clashes. As international mediators attempt to contain the fallout and revive adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the debate over Hezbollah’s weapons continues to divide Lebanese society and complicate efforts to build a unified state policy on national defense.
With the government under pressure both domestically and internationally, and Hezbollah refusing to compromise, Lebanon finds itself at a critical juncture torn between the demands of state sovereignty, the realities of regional conflict, and the enduring presence of a powerful non-state military actor.
