The Huey II helicopters delivered to the Lebanese Army by the United States, February 2021. Photo courtesy of the owner.
All eyes are now on the Lebanese Army, which many Lebanese and the international community, most notably the U.S., expect to accomplish a major mission: that of having a monopoly on violence across the country. This means disarming all militias, especially Hezbollah. However, the party’s circles remain sceptical, arguing that the army does not have the means or the capacity to defend the country on its own. This argument is designed to further legitimize the Iran-aligned party’s arsenal, at a time when U.S. pressure is mounting on Lebanon to implement the Nov. 27, 2024, cease-fire deal. On Friday, Jaafarite Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan — an unofficial spokesman for Hezbollah — said that disarming Hezbollah is tantamount to “succumbing to American conditions” and eliminating “Lebanon’s strength.”For its part, the Lebanese Army is...
All eyes are now on the Lebanese Army, which many Lebanese and the international community, most notably the U.S., expect to accomplish a major mission: that of having a monopoly on violence across the country. This means disarming all militias, especially Hezbollah. However, the party’s circles remain sceptical, arguing that the army does not have the means or the capacity to defend the country on its own. This argument is designed to further legitimize the Iran-aligned party’s arsenal, at a time when U.S. pressure is mounting on Lebanon to implement the Nov. 27, 2024, cease-fire deal. On Friday, Jaafarite Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan — an unofficial spokesman for Hezbollah — said that disarming Hezbollah is tantamount to “succumbing to American conditions” and eliminating “Lebanon’s strength.”For its part, the...