Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon Still Has Much to Do

21st May 2025

2 minutes read

Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon Still Has Much to Do

Lebanon still faces significant challenges in disarming Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire agreement recently reached between the group and Israel. This was confirmed by Morgan Ortagus, Deputy U.S. Envoy to the Middle East, during the Qatar Economic Forum held in Doha.

On Tuesday, Ortagus stated that Lebanese officials had achieved more in the past six months than they likely had in the previous fifteen years, yet she stressed that “there is still much more to be done.”

A Fragile Ceasefire Mediated by the U.S. and France

Since November 27, a ceasefire has been in place between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered through U.S. and French mediation. The agreement includes the following provisions:

Hezbollah’s withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River (about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border).
Dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the region.
In return, the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would increase their presence near the Israeli border.

The agreement also stipulated that Israel withdraw from areas it had advanced into during the conflict. However, after the deadline passed, Israel retained control of five strategic hilltops, granting it oversight of large stretches on both sides of the border, and it has continued airstrikes, particularly in southern Lebanon.

Growing International Pressure and Lebanese Commitments

Lebanon has called on the international community to pressure Israel into halting its attacks and withdrawing from the remaining occupied points.

Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities have reiterated their decision to ensure that all weapons remain under state control, amid increasing U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah, which has suffered substantial military and leadership losses during the recent war.

In late April, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed that the army now controls over 85% of the south, which it has “cleared” in line with its ceasefire commitments.

Ortagus emphasized that the United States calls for the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, noting that this demand applies not only to the south of the Litani but across all of Lebanon. She urged the Lebanese leadership to “make a decision” on this critical issue.