A Hezbollah lawmaker, Ali Fayad, on Sunday warned the Lebanese government against setting “any timetable” or making “new commitments” regarding the disarmament of the Iran-backed group north of the Litani River, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
Ali Fayad © Mena Today
A Hezbollah lawmaker, Ali Fayad, on Sunday warned the Lebanese government against setting “any timetable” or making “new commitments” regarding the disarmament of the Iran-backed group north of the Litani River, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
His remarks come ahead of a Cabinet meeting at which Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal is expected to outline the second phase of a state plan to consolidate control over weapons, covering the area between the Awali and Litani rivers.
Fayad said he feared the plan could “weaken Lebanon’s negotiating position” and create further internal tensions. He accused Israel of continuing attacks despite previous concessions, arguing that disarmament steps should be suspended unless Israel fully complies with the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, including withdrawal, cessation of hostilities, prisoner releases, and the return of displaced residents.
Hezbollah has so far refused to hand over its weapons north of the Litani, despite a government decision last August.
Meanwhile, Israel continues near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon and occasionally in the Bekaa Valley, claiming Hezbollah has failed to dismantle its military infrastructure as required under the ceasefire that followed 13 months of fighting.
Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, three officials briefed on the message told Reuters.
NATO member Turkey would consider taking its relations with the China and Russia-led security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to a higher level, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
The U.S. and Iran found themselves back in a war footing on Wednesday after the most significant exchange in weeks, with Washington threatening even more devastating strikes while Iran protested an attack that it said killed five and wounded dozens of civilians at a wedding.
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