Lebanon Minister for Displaced Persons Kamal Shehadeh: “Hezbollah’s weapons destroyed Lebanon”

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Minister for Displaced Persons Kamal Shehadeh told Al-Arabiya that the Lebanese government will not back down from its decision to restrict arms to the state only. Shehadeh stated that the Lebanese government remains firm in its stance regarding the monopoly of arms, asserting that Hezbollah’s arsenal has not protected Lebanon, but rather destroyed it.

He emphasized that Lebanon’s security lies in diplomacy. “Hezbollah’s stubbornness over its weapons has not led to any positive outcome,” he added, noting that diplomatic solutions are still possible.

Shehadeh’s remarks follow earlier reports from Al-Arabiya indicating that Hezbollah’s military wing informed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, that it will not surrender its weapons, even if Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah apparently warned that it is ready for a confrontation with the Lebanese Armed Forces if the Lebanese state persists in demanding its disarmament.

Sources have told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath revealed that US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack, who visited Lebanon this week, demanded a phased plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament. He reportedly set a final deadline for October of this year. Barrack reiterated to Lebanese officials that ”time is running out.” The response conveyed by Hezbollah, through Berri, however, was reportedly negative.

The Shiite group, designated a terrorist organization by many Western countries, remains adamant about retaining its arms, citing a lack of guarantees and linking the issue to recent events in Syria’s Suwayda.