Salam says Hezbollah's weapons have protected no one, Aoun defends army

BEIRUT — Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated Thursday that Hezbollah's weapons "have protected neither the party's leaders nor the Lebanese," also acknowledging that the country is "behind schedule" in the process of disarming the Shiite party, during a meeting with a delegation from the Press Club at the Grand Serail.

President Joseph Aoun, speaking in Baabda, defended the Lebanese Army, asserting that it "fully carries out its obligations," even as Lebanon suffers near-daily Israeli raids while facing harsh criticism from the international community over its handling of the weapons monopoly issue.

On Sunday, the Israeli army eliminated Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, Hezbollah's chief of staff, in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs.

During his discussion with the Press Club, Salam sharply criticized the effectiveness of the “deterrent power” that the Shiite party often touts as a reason for refusing to give up its arsenal, though he did not deny "the crucial role" Hezbollah played in the liberation of South Lebanon in 2000, then occupied by Israel.

"Hezbollah claims its weapons deter any aggression, and deterrence is supposed to prevent the enemy from attacking. Yet, the enemy has attacked, and these weapons did not deter them. Furthermore, they have protected neither the party's leaders nor the Lebanese and their property, as shown by the dozens of villages razed" in South Lebanon, Salam said.

"This arsenal has provided neither deterrence, nor protection, nor victory in Gaza," he added, indirectly criticizing the legitimacy of the "support front" opened by the Shiite party in the south following the start of the war between Hamas and Israel in October 2023 in the Palestinian enclave besieged by the Israeli state.

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'The situation is not entirely hopeless'

"Lebanon is engaged in a one-sided war of attrition that is escalating," the Prime Minister continued, before adding that "the situation is not entirely hopeless, as other developments in the country suggest a beginning of renewed confidence."

He acknowledged that the authorities had so far "failed to implement Resolution 1701 of 2006," the text that ended the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah and served as the basis for the cease-fire struck a year ago. He also recalled that the preamble of the cease-fire agreement excluded the Shiite party from the entities authorized to bear arms in Lebanon.

Salam also mentioned the various deadlines set by the government to restore the State's monopoly on weapons, through decisions taken last summer and rejected by Hezbollah.

"The first phase, concerning the area south of the Litani River, should be completed by the end of the year and involves dismantling weapons and military infrastructure. North of the Litani, we currently have to contain the weapons, that is, prevent their transfer and use. The process will then continue through other phases aimed at monopolizing weapons in different regions," he explained.

Since the cease-fire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024 — a period marked by daily Israeli bombardments in Lebanon — Hezbollah has claimed to defer to the Lebanese state, while refusing to hand over its arsenal north of the Litani River.

The Lebanese state is accused by Israel and the United States of stalling, with criticism heightened by the recent last-minute cancellation of meetings during Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal’s planned visit to Washington.

Responding to a question, the Prime Minister finally stated he is "not interested" in remarks made Wednesday by Ali Akbar Velayati, the international affairs adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, according to whom "Israeli attacks and crimes" justified Hezbollah's presence in Lebanon.

Aoun: 'The Lebanese Army fully carries out its obligations'

Aoun also spoke Thursday during a meeting with the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, Mohammad Khaled Khiari, with whom he discussed the situation in the country one year after the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect.

Khiari said that his visit to Lebanon was part of an assessment of the situation on the ground, to report to the U.N. Secretary-General and the Security Council. He also conveyed the support of Secretary-General António Guterres to Lebanon.

During the exchange, Aoun reaffirmed that the country is respecting the terms of the cease-fire, unlike Israel, which continues to bomb national territory and occupy several sites in South Lebanon, blocking the deployment of the Lebanese Army in this area.

He also criticized Israel for ignoring repeated calls from the international community to respect the cease-fire and Security Council Resolution 1701.

Aoun maintained his position by defending the Lebanese Army, despite American and Israeli criticism targeting it over the disarmament issue, insisting that it "fully carries out its obligations" and rejecting "Israeli allegations that challenge its role on the ground, without providing any tangible evidence."

He also noted that the committee monitoring the implementation of the cease-fire (known as the 'mechanism') has officially documented the army’s daily activities, such as preventing shows of force, confiscating ammunition, inspecting tunnels, and other related tasks.

The president also welcomed the support provided by the U.N. Secretary-General to Lebanon.

"Lebanon welcomes any assistance offered by the United Nations and friendly countries aimed at stabilizing the south of the country and ending Israeli attacks," President Aoun said, stressing that he has launched “several initiatives aimed at finding lasting solutions to the current situation, without receiving any concrete response despite the positive engagement of the international community."