Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has stated that disarming Hezbollah is a key condition for receiving international aid, including support for reconstruction and economic recovery.
In an interview, Rajji explained that the United States has made it clear that international assistance will not be provided unless all weapons in Lebanon are placed under the control of the state. He emphasized that the Lebanese government must assert full sovereignty across its territory, including areas south of the Litani River.
Rajji said Lebanon is currently facing a rare opportunity, as the U.S. has expressed willingness to support the country’s rebuilding efforts and help restore its economy—if the condition of disarming Hezbollah is met.
He stressed that this requirement is not only coming from international actors but also from Arab nations and internal stakeholders within Lebanon.
Rajji also called on Israel to cooperate by withdrawing from Lebanese territory, asserting that such a move would weaken Hezbollah’s justification for maintaining its armed presence. He insisted that both the withdrawal and the handover of weapons should happen swiftly.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun recently said that Hezbollah has shown openness to discussing its weapons. A Hezbollah lawmaker, Hassan Fadlallah, confirmed the group’s readiness to enter talks with the Lebanese government on a national defense strategy and Israel’s withdrawal from disputed areas.
A senior Hezbollah official said the group would consider disarming if Israel withdrew from specific areas and stopped what it called ongoing aggression against Lebanon.
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Meanwhile, reports suggest the U.S. has advised Gulf nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia to withhold financial aid to Lebanon until there is visible progress in disarming Hezbollah.
Israel continues to carry out limited strikes in Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah has violated ceasefire agreements. Israeli authorities have also criticized the Lebanese Army for not taking faster control of former Hezbollah-held areas.