In a tense political and security atmosphere, the Hezbollah weapon file returned to the fore after a new escalation by the party, which renewed its rejection of the Lebanese government’s decision to limit the weapons in the hands of the state, warning of its repercussions on the stability of the country.
In a televised speech to its Secretary -General, the party considered that the decision might lead to a “civil war”, again, adhering to its weapons and attackers of the government, which he accused of implementing “external dictates” targeting what he calls “resistance”, as he described. He also indicated that the protests organized by his supporters against the decision may expand to the vicinity of the American embassy.
This escalation comes about two weeks after the government approved a plan to hand over Hezbollah to the army, to provide its details late this month, in preparation for its implementation before the end of the year 2025.
The past days have witnessed motorcycle marches organized by party supporters in a number of regions, as an expression of their rejection of the decision, amid Lebanese criticism of external interference, especially Iranian statements that called for the maintenance of the party’s weapon.
It is noteworthy that the government’s decision to limit the weapons in the hands of the state is based on what was approved by the Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese civil war in 1989, which stipulated the dissolution of all militias and the handing over of its weapons to the legitimate authorities, within the framework of strengthening the sovereignty of the state and extending its authority over the entire Lebanese territories. Most of the Lebanese parties have adhered to the terms of the agreement at the time, while the Hezbollah weapon file has remained a subject of internal and external controversy from then until today.
