Hezbollah disarmament: Second phase can be completed in 4 months, Salam says

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that the second phase of the militia disarmament plan, particularly concerning Hezbollah, is "achievable within four months" if the Lebanese army "is provided with the same conditions." The statement comes a week ahead of the conference in support of the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF), scheduled for March 5 in Paris.

On Feb. 16, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal presented his vision for implementing the second phase of the militia disarmament plan, especially concerning Hezbollah, to the Cabinet. With the government's approval, he anticipated a period of four to eight months to complete this stage, which focuses on the area between the Litani and Awali rivers.

By setting a deadline, the army sought to signal its determination to advance the project amid international pressure, particularly from the United States and Israel. At the same time, the formula ultimately adopted seems designed to avoid an internal crisis, as Hezbollah insists that the November 2024 agreement only mandates its disarmament south of the Litani River and urges the government to “abandon its weapons monopoly.”

"To accomplish this weapons monopoly plan, we as a government will ensure that our armed forces have all the necessary means, and we will work to provide them with the broadest political and popular support," Salam stressed. He recalled that "at the end of last year, the army finished the first phase of its plan south of the Litani River. This is the first time since 1969 that our armed forces have regained full operational control of this region." The prime minister also denounced the ongoing Israeli attacks.

"We are meeting today, one year after our government gained Parliament's confidence and began its work," Salam added. "It was an exceptional year in terms of events and challenges. For many decades, a culture of impunity, looting of public funds and lack of accountability has prevailed. This has deeply eroded trust in the state, both among citizens, who constitute the social contract and the legitimacy of power, and among our Arab brothers and the international community."

"After a year, we do not claim to have performed miracles, but we have laid the necessary groundwork to face these challenges, changing a course that inevitably led to the total collapse of the state and society," he continued. "Clearly, the government's mandate will end with the completion of the electoral deadline. What we have accomplished may not meet all of our ambitions or those of the Lebanese, but the important thing is that we have put the country on the path to rebuilding the state and its institutions, and to restoring citizens' confidence."