The disarmament of Hezbollah refers to the demand to limit or eliminate Hezbollah's military capabilities in Lebanon. Since its emergence in the 1980s, Hezbollah has operated as a Shiite Islamist group that embraces paramilitarism to attain its goals. Its key objectives include eliminating Western influence, destroying Israel, pledging allegiance to Iran's supreme leader, and establishing an Islamic government influenced by Iran's political ideology.
In early 2025, a new government was formed in Lebanon. At the same time, Hezbollah suffered a major decline in its power following a series of significant military setbacks suffered during its armed confrontation with Israel, which commenced on 8 October 2023, when Hezbollah intervened to support armed groups in Gaza. This presented the country with a chance to pursue Hezbollah's disarmament, as the newly elected president and prime minister had prioritized it. The government's main goals for the country's recovery include notable domestic reforms, in order to match international demands and receive the $1.1 billion aid promised to the country, depending on its capability to enforce those domestic reforms and disarm Hezbollah.
According to available sources, Hezbollah has closed the majority of its training facilities. In light of these developments, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun proposed a framework in which former Hezbollah members could be integrated into the Lebanese Armed Forces. However, he emphasized that such integration would not involve the creation of a distinct or autonomous military unit within the army, as was the case with certain militias incorporated following the conclusion of the Lebanese Civil War.
From Hezbollah's standpoint, the principal condition for advancing the disarmament process is the provision of guarantees by Israel, specifically a formal commitment to refrain from future attacks on Lebanon and a withdrawal from the five points. An Israeli official stated that before peace talks can progress, Hezbollah must disarm. The official also added that this will be very hard and that they do not know if it will succeed.
On 5 September 2025, the government met to review the Lebanese Army plan for confining all weapons in Lebanon to state control, focusing on the disarmament of Hezbollah. The meeting ended with the government accepting the army's plan.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, local and international attempts to disarm Hezbollah, reports say that from day one after the signing of the agreement, the organization began its rearmament.
Background
Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamist militant group and political party based in Lebanon. It was formed in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon, receiving support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and having political backing from Syria's Assad regime. Its political wing is legitimate, having seats in the Lebanese Parliament. Its independent armed wing, often viewed as more capable than the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), operates outside the state, undermining national sovereignty and the rule of law.
Since its establishment, Hezbollah has played a central role in many armed conflicts against Lebanon, Israel, and Syria. It played a major role in the Lebanese Civil War, managing to exclude itself from the Taif agreement signed by all other parties of the Lebanese Civil War in 1989. Until 2000, it fought a guerrilla war in Southern Lebanon against Israel, leading to its withdrawal. In 2006, Hezbollah's cross-border raid kidnapping two Israeli soldiers started a 34-day war with Israel, which resulted in many casualties and widespread destruction in Lebanon. In 2008, Hezbollah turned its power against Lebanon during a political crisis as it briefly took hold of West Beirut by force. Then in 2011, it took part in the Syrian civil war as an ally of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Following the war, it increased its military arsenal.
A day after the October 7 attacks, Hezbollah started firing guided rockets and artillery shells into Israel, starting the largest escalation between the sides since 2006. The height of the campaign was in September 2024 when Israel eliminated Hezbollah's leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah, followed by heavy losses estimated at thousands of fighters, and significant blows to its missile infrastructure. On 27 November 2024, a ceasefire was brokered by the United States and France. As a new government rose during 2025, it increased its pressure on Hezbollah to bring its weapons under state control, while Hezbollah itself remains resistant to full disarmament.
Legal and political framework
Taif Agreement (1989) The Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese Civil War, called for the disbanding of all Lebanese militias; all parties signed the agreement. However, Hezbollah was informally exempted on the grounds that it was a resistance force fighting Israeli occupation—an occupation that ended in 2000.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) Resolution 1559 was issued in 2004, and it explicitly called for the disbandment and disarmament of all the militias and organizations within Lebanon, regardless of whether they are Lebanese or non-Lebanese. Once again, Hezbollah was not named specifically in the resolution, but it was understood that it included Hezbollah as well. As of 2025, the organization has yet to disarm itself, violating the resolution.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) Resolution 1701 was created after the 2006 Lebanon War between Hezbollah and Israel. Once again, this resolution reiterated the call for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, and called for the deployment of the Lebanese army and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
Economic aspect In October 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Lebanon on its grey list, citing serious shortcomings in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. This designation subjects Lebanon to increased international monitoring and pressure to implement urgent financial reforms. The decision comes amid a deep and prolonged economic crisis that began in 2019, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion. With its banking sector in collapse and a growing reliance on cash transactions, Lebanon has struggled to regulate financial flows effectively.
The FATF has pointed out key concerns. Lebanon has a weak court system that is influenced by politics, and the government hasn't done enough to stop money from going to terrorist groups connected to local militias. Being placed on the "grey list" has serious effects: it scares away foreign investors, makes it harder for people to send or receive money from abroad, and increases paperwork and costs for Lebanese banks. This listing shows that Lebanon urgently needs to improve its rules and systems to fight money laundering and terrorism funding, in order to rebuild trust with the global financial community. This is directly connected to Hezbollah as the FATF grey listing of Lebanon, as it has a significant role in both Lebanon's political system and its financial environment, which the FATF and international authorities identify as major obstacles to effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) enforcement.
Timeline In February 2025, a new Lebanese government was formed, ending Najib Mikati's caretaker rule. One of its agendas was disarming Hezbollah. In the same month, U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus visited Lebanon, where she spoke firmly that the Lebanese government must disarm Hezbollah or "face increased isolation". During the visit, she met both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
During March - April 2025, additional Lebanese soldiers were deployed in southern Lebanon to strengthen and assist in dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. It was also reported that 90% of Hezbollah's outposts in South Lebanon were handed over.
On 15 April 2025, in an interview, President Aoun spoke about a non-violent approach towards the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament, reaching the goal through dialogue and coordination with the Parliament speaker.
On 27 April 2025, despite the ceasefire, Israel conducted an airstrike on Hezbollah installations in southern Beirut.
In late April 2025, according to the Lebanese Army, 90% of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River was dismantled, so taking hold of former Hezbollah strongholds.
On 4 July 2025, according to reports, Hezbollah held an internal strategic review in order to consider partial disarmament or scaling down its armed presence, due to its major losses during 2024, financial pressure, ongoing Israeli strikes, and the diminishing of Iranian support, along with the fall of the Assad regime.
Reports emerge that Hezbollah is conducting a major internal strategic review considering partial disarmament or scaling down its armed presence, driven by massive losses in the 2024 war, financial pressures, Israeli strikes, and the regional fallout from the fall of Assad's regime and diminished Iranian support.
The U.S. Presidential Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, submitted a proposal during his visit in early July. On 5 July, Hezbollah described it as "a form of capitulation." Barrack first visited Beirut on 19 June.
On 7 July 2025, Thomas Barrack visited Beirut, where he met with President Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. During the visit, President Aoun presented Barrack with Lebanese proposals for a comprehensive solution.US 'unbelievably satisfied' with Lebanon reply to proposal on disarming Hezbollah
On 11 July 2025, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun dismissed the prospect of normalization with Israel at this stage, expressing support instead for a state of "no war" as long as parts of Lebanese territory remain under Israeli occupation. He stressed that the decision to reserve all arms exclusively for the state has been firmly made and is irreversible.
On 5 September 2025, Lebanon's government approved the army's plan presented by General Rodolphe Haykal to control all weapons, mainly Hezbollah's, despite the walkout of all five Shi'ite ministers. PM Nawaf Salam announced the decision, while Information Minister Paul Morcos admitted the army's limited capacity. Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar rejected the move as invalid without Shi'ite participation under Lebanon's power-sharing system.
In October 2025, Tom Barrack, the United States special envoy for Syria, cautioned that Hezbollah's military faction would encounter a significant confrontation with Israel unless Beirut took decisive measures. This warning comes in light of Israel's formidable strength. Lebanon is required to disarm Hezbollah and initiate discussions with Israel. The Lebanese military does not possess the necessary financial resources and authority to take action. Should Beirut persist in its indecision, Israel may proceed unilaterally, leading to severe repercussions, as disarming Hezbollah would ensure the security of Israel's northern frontiers.
On 8 January 2026, the Lebanese Forces claimed they had gained control over the area south of the Litani River, disarming Hezbollah and other militias. By this, they stated they are ready to move on to Phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement.
Rearmament As of October 2025, reports show that Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire agreement and the Lebanese and international efforts to disarm the organization, has begun rearming itself. Hezbollah uses the seaport as well as smuggling routes from Syria to obtain new missiles, anti-tank missiles, rockets, and artillery. It also manufactures its own weapons, with the activity focused on the Beirut suburbs and the Beqaa Valley.
Government decisions
7 August