Lebanon’s military is gearing up for some incredibly ‘sensitive missions,’ and it’s not just routine operations. A major US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah is at the heart of it all. Can the nation navigate this delicate tightrope act without sparking further instability? The stakes couldn’t be higher for civil peace.
Lebanon’s military establishment is on the cusp of undertaking a series of “sensitive missions,” a critical move explicitly linked to a significant US-backed initiative aimed at disarming the powerful militant group, Hezbollah. This imminent action by the Lebanese Army is designed to navigate the nation’s profound political instability while striving to uphold civil peace and internal stability, factors that remain precariously balanced in the crisis-hit nation.
The underlying framework for these operations stems from a directive issued by the Lebanese government in early August, instructing the army to devise a comprehensive strategy for Hezbollah disarmament by the end of the year. This ambitious US Foreign Policy objective also targets the removal of Palestinian weapons housed within the country’s refugee camps, signaling a broader effort to consolidate state authority and control over armed factions in the Middle East Politics landscape.
However, the prospect of disarmament has been met with staunch opposition from Hezbollah’s leadership. The Iran-backed organization has unequivocally vowed not to relinquish its weapons, asserting that such a move would primarily serve the strategic interests of Israel, its long-standing adversary. This stance underscores the deep ideological and security divisions that continue to plague Lebanon.
General Rodolphe Haykal, the country’s army chief, has been instrumental in articulating the gravity of the situation, remarking on the military’s expanding responsibilities across all sectors. His recent pronouncements to top generals emphasized that the Lebanese Army is now entering a “delicate stage” where these “sensitive missions” will demand meticulous execution and strategic foresight.
Haykal further elaborated that every necessary step would be taken to ensure the success of these undertakings. Crucially, the army’s actions will be meticulously balanced with the imperative to preserve civil peace and maintain internal stability, acknowledging the volatile environment in which these operations are set to unfold.
The issue of Hezbollah disarmament is deeply intertwined with historical conflicts, most notably the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war that concluded in November 2024 with a US-brokered ceasefire. Post-conflict, Hezbollah officials have consistently reiterated that discussions about disarming would remain off the table until Israel withdraws from five specific hills within Lebanon and ceases its almost daily airstrikes, which have tragically resulted in numerous casualties, predominantly among Hezbollah members.
Adding to the regional tensions, the Israeli military recently reported the killing of an official with Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces in southern Lebanon. This incident, confirmed by Lebanese state media which cited a drone strike in Sir el-Gharbiyeh, highlights the ongoing, low-intensity conflict and the precarious security situation in the border regions.
In a parallel effort to bolster national security, General Haykal also confirmed that the Lebanese Army is actively engaged in discussions with Syrian authorities. These talks are focused on establishing more effective control over the shared border between Lebanon and Syria, aiming to mitigate cross-border movements that could further destabilize the region and complicate the “sensitive missions” at hand.
