LEBANON

BEIRUT — In the wake of the Lebanese government’s landmark endorsement of the disarmament initiative proposed by US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack — which calls for the dismantling of Iran-backed Hezbollah — several Lebanese Christian sovereignist parties have publicly expressed their full support. The…

BEIRUT — In a move described by Washington as “historic, bold, and correct,” Lebanon’s Cabinet has approved the core goals of a U.S.-brokered proposal to restore the state’s monopoly over weapons — a decision that for the first time in decades places Hezbollah’s disarmament on the official political agenda.  The…

BEIRUT / BETH KERKE — Syriac Maronite Patriarchate is signaling renewed momentum behind its decades-long push to secure state sovereignty and neutrality, after a historic government decision this week placed the disarmament of Hezbollah on the political agenda for the first time since the 1989 Taif Agreement.  As detailed in…

BEIRUT — Lebanon and its political factions have long been known for their confrontations, rivalries, and deep internal divisions. Yet, in a rare and unprecedented moment in the country’s modern history, political actors across the spectrum appeared united around one central issue: the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah. This unexpected consensus…

BEIRUT — Despite a broad consensus among Lebanese, regional, and international actors on the urgent need to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah and place all weapons under the sole authority of the Lebanese state, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made a controversial statement from Beirut Airport that drew strong condemnation from…

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — In a statement released on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, following its monthly meeting, the Council of Syriac Maronite Bishops called on the Lebanese government to fully reassert sovereignty across all national territory, stressing that disarming Hezbollah is essential to restoring legitimate state authority. The statement, issued…

BEIRUT — In a forceful political statement reflecting Lebanon’s escalating internal tensions, Ibrahim Mrad, head of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP), declared that Hezbollah’s refusal to comply with the Lebanese government’s decision to restrict weapons to state control constitutes “not merely a political objection, but a full and explicit…

BEIRUT – In a formal statement, Hezbollah categorically rejected the Lebanese government’s decision to pursue the disarmament of the party, declaring that it would treat the resolution as “non-existent.” The pronouncement reflects a significant escalation in political tensions between Hezbollah and the government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.   Hezbollah,…

BAABDA, Lebanon — Lebanon’s fragile political landscape veered once again into deadlock on Monday, as Hezbollah’s leadership publicly rejected calls to hand over its weapons or commit to a timeline for disarmament. The move coincided with a high-stakes cabinet session in Baabda Presidential Palace that had been expected to lay…

BEIRUT — Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem has again rejected any disarmament of his party. In a speech broadcast today, he stressed that Hezbollah will not agree to any proposed timetable under the shadow of Israeli aggression, rejecting any new agreement other than the November 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel.  Disarmament…