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Hezbollah ‘ready’ to hold disarmament talks if IDF withdraws from Lebanon
If achieved, a deal would mark the latest blow to Iran’s network of proxies in the region
April 9, 2025 11:51
If achieved, a deal would mark the latest blow to Iran’s network of proxies in the region
April 9, 2025 11:51Hezbollah is prepared to hold talks on the prospect of disarming if the IDF completes its withdrawal from Lebanon, according to a “senior official” for the group.
The source told Reuters that the terror organisation is willing to negotiate with the country’s new government, led by the US-backed Joseph Aoun, on the condition of a full ceasefire with Israel.
They said: “Hezbollah is ready to discuss the matter of its arms if Israel withdraws from the five points, and halts its aggression against Lebanese."
Israeli troops were already scheduled to leave the country under the previous ceasefire deal, agreed last November, but remained in five areas of southern Lebanon, with the military command claiming that their presence was necessary due to delays to the deployment of Lebanese forces to take their place as planned.
Since then, Hezbollah has apparently been weakened by the reported withdrawal of Iranian support amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.
A report from the Telegraph last week stated that Iran had “abandoned” the Houthis in Yemen by pulling out its military personnel in order to avoid a direct confrontation with the US in the event that an Iranian was killed in American airstrikes on the group.
There has not yet been any confirmation that the same logic has been applied to Hezbollah but reports yesterday that similar militias in Iraq were also considering disarmament due to Tehran scaling back its intervention has led some analysts to suggest that Iran’s network of proxies is cracking under US pressure.
Hezbollah was also severely diminished by its intense conflict with Israel last year, while the fall of the Assad regime in Syria cut it off from its main backers in Iran.
Three Lebanese political sources told Reuters that Aoun intends to open negotiations with the group soon regarding an arms deal.
However, he was said to favour a negotiated settlement, fearing that any attempt to force Hezbollah to disarm could lead to civil war.
In parallel, Morgan Ortagus, the US’ deputy envoy to the Middle East, piled on the pressure, insisting that Hezbollah lay down its weapons as soon as possible.
She told Lebanon’s LBCI TV: “It's clear that Hezbollah has to be disarmed and it's clear that Israel is not going to accept terrorists shooting at them, into their country, and that's a position we understand.”