Lebanon

The Lebanese military will begin implementing its plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, the government said on Friday following a cabinet meeting, amid opposition from the group and its allies. The cabinet discussed the plan on Friday despite a walkout by Shiite ministers in protest at the proposals.  

The United Nations said Wednesday that Israeli drones dropped four grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, with Israel insisting there was “no intentional fire” at the force. UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, called Tuesday’s incident “one of the most serious attacks” since a November ceasefire ended last year’s war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Security Council … extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), for a final time until 31 December 2026, and decided that it should start an orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal from that date.

On Monday, Israel signalled it would scale back its military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese armed forces took action to disarm Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah, while the Iran-backed group reiterated its refusal to lay down its weapons. Lebanon then stated that it would present a plan aimed at persuading Hezbollah to disarm, with Israel expected to submit a corresponding framework for its military withdrawal, top U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack.

Armed Palestinian groups based in Lebanon’s refugee camps are set to begin handing over their weapons to Lebanese authorities on Thursday, marking the start of a process agreed upon earlier this year. … The issue of weapons in Palestinian refugee camps has been a sensitive matter in Lebanon for decades. Many camps operate outside the full control of the Lebanese state, with armed factions maintaining their own security structures. 

France and its European partners are resisting Washington’s push to end the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon – UNIFIL – arguing its presence remains essential for stability along Israel’s northern border.

Lebanon's government has tasked the army with developing a plan in which only state institutions will have weapons by the end of the year. Such a move would effectively disarm Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. Tuesday's Cabinet decision follows heavy pressure from the United States to disarm the group.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reiterated calls for Hezbollah to hand over its weapons to the army, a move rejected by the group despite growing pressure from Israel’s main ally, the United States.

Hezbollah has begun a major strategic review in the wake of its devastating war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely, three sources familiar with the deliberations say.  

The US and Israel have reportedly agreed to ending the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, Israel Hayom reported yesterday. … The report stated that the United States is seeking to reduce the costs associated with running the UN peacekeeping mission, while Israel believes that its coordination with the Lebanese army is sufficient and effective enough to make UNIFIL’s continued presence unnecessary.