Lebanon: What will it take to disarm Hezbollah?

In a significant geopolitical shift, the Lebanese government, under mounting pressure from the United States, has escalated its efforts to disarm Hezbollah, the Shia political party and militant group often described as a ‘state within a state.’ Hezbollah, which emerged in 1982 as a resistance movement against the Israeli invasion, has maintained an armed presence in Lebanon for decades, often clashing with Israel. Tensions between the two factions reached a boiling point in September 2024, following an extensive Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon. Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, Israel has continued to violate the terms with ongoing air strikes and the occupation of five Lebanese locations.