‘The Hand That Tries to Reach the Weapons Will Be Cut’: Lebanon’s President Aims to Disarm Hezbollah, Iran-Backed Group Objects

Latest Developments

• ‘All Arms Must Be Under the Sole Authority of the State’: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on April 15 that he aims to disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group this year through dialogue. He added that qualified current members of Hezbollah would be allowed to join the Lebanese Army but not through independent units along the lines of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs) in Iraq. “A decision has been made that all arms must be under the sole authority of the state — and that includes Palestinian weapons as well,” Aoun said. He added that dialogue is needed to “understand Hezbollah’s concerns and perceived threats” and address them to avoid a civil war.
• Hezbollah Leader Says Resistance Will Continue: Hezbollah signaled that it would not disarm. “The hand that tries to reach the weapons of the resistance will be cut off, whether it is an Israeli hand or foreign terrorism, or the hand of the ‘domestic Jews,’” Hezbollah politburo member Mahmoud Qmati said. In an interview last month, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared, “When we say the resistance [against Israel] is continuing, and while we speak of a strong state, what do we mean by ‘continuing?’ With books?! It is continuing on the battlefield.”
• Suspects in Rocket Launches Arrested: Lebanese officials have said that the army is making progress in deploying its troops south of the Litani River — formerly Hezbollah’s stronghold — in accordance with the November 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel. On April 16, the Lebanese army said it “detained a number of Palestinian and Lebanese suspects” that it believed were responsible for rocket attacks against Israel in March but did not specify if they were Hezbollah operatives.

FDD Expert Response

“Aoun has said he is seeking to monopolize the use of force in the hands of the Lebanese state and doesn’t want Beirut to imitate Iraq’s PMF model. If sincere, this should be welcomed. However, Aoun seeks to achieve his stated goals through bilateral dialogue with Hezbollah, which has made clear that the president’s vision is just that: his own. Hezbollah’s officials have said they intend to retain their arms, interpreting the state’s monopoly on the use of force as helping to keep ‘the resistance’ intact. Hezbollah will seek to leverage every bit of their remaining military power and massive social leverage to ensure that their vision, not Aoun’s, prevails.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“Aoun’s blueprint for Hezbollah is good, and there are credible reports that the Lebanese Armed Forces are taking over Hezbollah positions and arms caches and sealing their tunnels. The only problem is that Aoun’s outline does not have a Plan B: What happens if Hezbollah refuses to surrender its arms to the state? Still, Aoun should be given credit for going where no Lebanese president or prime minister dared to go before him.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Weakened by Israel, Hezbollah turns to spin games to hold support,” by David Daoud

“Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: April 7–April 13, 2025,” by David Daoud

“Naim Qassem explains Hezbollah’s vision for the future in first long-form interview,” by David Daoud

“Hezbollah Open to Discussing its Weapons if Israel Vacates Lebanon, Senior Official Says,” FDD Flash Brief