Lebanese Government Commits to Hezbollah Disarmament Amid Regional Diplomatic Efforts

Lebanon has made a significant move toward disarming Hezbollah by pledging to work on this goal by the end of 2025, a step praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who suggested it could lead to a reduction of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. However, Hezbollah demands that Israel first withdraw from five strategic hills in Lebanon and stop airstrikes targeting the group, which have continued since the ceasefire that ended their recent conflict. The Lebanese government also accepted an American proposal involving border demarcation, drug smuggling combat, and Hezbollah's disarmament, but is awaiting Syria's response, which remains silent due to regional calculations and coordination with Hezbollah. Israel maintains that Hezbollah is an Iranian proxy resisting Lebanon's sovereignty and that a historic peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon from 1983, though shelved under Syrian pressure, still underpins some current agreements and negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel views Iran as its principal adversary, with ongoing tensions marked by missile and drone attacks following Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, though a US-brokered ceasefire has temporarily paused hostilities. These developments underscore a complex regional dynamic where Lebanon's government seeks sovereignty and stability amid pressure from Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, and Israel.