Haykal requests four to eight months extension for second phase of disarmament plan

BEIRUT — Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal on Monday requested a delay of four to eight months to implement the second phase of the disarmament plan during his presentation at the Cabinet meeting in Baabda Presidential Palace, according to information from L’Orient-Le Jour.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivered a speech in parallel with the Cabinet session, in which he notably called on the executive to “abandon” their pursuit of a monopoly over weapons and to stop making “free concessions.”

Although in January Haykal had pledged to present his plan for the second phase in February, he said Monday that it had already begun through measures taken north of the Litani River.

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A source close to the matter said the army chief would adopt a gradual approach with Hezbollah, which maintains that the cease-fire agreement with Israel calls for disarmament only south of the river. L’Orient-Le Jour also learned from an informed source that Amal and Hezbollah ministers “did not adopt a negative attitude” regarding the plan but requested “certain clarifications.”

Before the Cabinet meeting, Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar (Hezbollah) ruled out in comments to L’Orient-Le Jour any withdrawal of Shiite ministers: “Like last time, we will listen to the army commander and decide during the meeting.”

A source close to the government told L'Orient-Le Jour that contacts had been made to avoid tensions. “Everyone is aware that in the current context, Lebanon cannot afford to act capriciously,” the source said, adding that “on some issues, there will be no compromise.”

The second phase of the army’s plan concerns the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, following its implementation south of the Litani. While Hezbollah has agreed to hand over its weapons in the first zone along the Israeli border, it has refused to do so elsewhere until the end of daily Israeli attacks on Lebanon, its occupation of several positions in the South and the detention of about 20 Lebanese nationals, including nine civilians, in Israeli prisons.

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'Mechanism': Lebanon ready to 'expand its role'

Ahead of the Cabinet session, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon was ready to “expand its role” within the cease-fire monitoring mechanism, including supervising disarmament.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Salam raised the possibility of adding, "if necessary," more Lebanese experts to the mechanism, alongside diplomat Simon Karam and military representatives. These could include “legal experts or surveyors,” particularly to address border demarcation.

Regarding disarmament, he stressed that the government is ready to “intensify efforts aimed at disarming” Hezbollah. “We are not seeking confrontation” with the party, “but we will not be intimidated by anyone,” he said at the Munich Security Conference.

Haykal also just returned from the same conference. There, he met several foreign chiefs of staff to discuss ways to support the army in carrying out its missions. The issue is set to be addressed at an international conference in Paris on March 5. Ahead of that event, a preparatory meeting will take place in Cairo on Feb. 24, L’Orient-Le Jour learned.