Hezbollah at a crossroads as Lebanon pushes for arms monopoly

Last year’s Israeli war on Lebanon has left Hezbollah in a precarious position.

Weakened by a relentless bombing campaign, a ground invasion and targeted strikes that killed much of its senior leadership - including its influential leader Hassan Nasrallah - the group has been facing mounting internal and international pressure to fully disarm.

The United States, which helped broker the November ceasefire that halted the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, has long insisted that the Lebanese government be the sole authority in control of weapons within the country.

In an interview with Lebanese broadcaster LBCI, US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said that “we continue to press on this government to fully fulfil the cessation of hostilities, and that includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias”.

Read more: Hezbollah at a crossroads as Lebanon pushes for arms monopoly