Overview

• The Lebanese army has deployed 6,000 troops in southern Lebanon, dismantling over 500 Hezbollah positions and confiscating weapons under the terms of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel.
• President Joseph Aoun has reaffirmed his goal to disarm Hezbollah in 2025 through dialogue, emphasizing the need to avoid civil conflict and proposing the integration of fighters into the national army.
• Hezbollah has signaled conditional openness to discussions about its weapons, contingent on a full Israeli withdrawal and cessation of airstrikes, though its media office disputes reports of disarmament talks.
• Iran’s stance on Hezbollah’s disarmament appears linked to its ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S., with analysts suggesting the group's arsenal may serve as a bargaining tool.
• Despite progress in the south, the Lebanese government faces challenges extending disarmament nationwide, given economic constraints, Israeli airstrikes, and Hezbollah’s enduring political influence.