Egypt urges more support for Lebanese army as it disarms Hezbollah

Support for Lebanon's Military Efforts

On Tue, Oct 10, 2023, Egypt urged the international community to enhance support for Lebanon's armed forces as the country advances a plan to disarm Hezbollah and centralize all weapons under state control. This call was made during a preparatory meeting in Cairo preceding the upcoming Paris conference focused on supporting the Lebanese army.

The Lebanese government committed last year to disarming Hezbollah and tasked the army with implementing a plan to achieve this objective. Despite limited capabilities, the military has made efforts to dismantle Hezbollah's facilities and confiscate weapons, declaring the completion of the first phase of the plan in January. This phase focused on the area south of the Litani River. The next phase targets the area north of the river, with an estimated timeline of at least four months for completion.

International Meeting and Participation

The meeting in Cairo brought together Lebanon's top security officials, including Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal and Internal Security Forces Director-General Major General Raed Abdallah. Representatives from the Quintet Committee on Lebanon, including Qatar, France, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, were also present.

Call for Comprehensive International Strategy

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive international approach to Lebanon's crisis, advocating for an exclusive state monopoly on weapons. He also highlighted the need for Israel to cease its actions and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories to restore stability.

Despite a November 2024 ceasefire, Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of rearming, has criticized the Lebanese army's progress and maintained regular strikes on Lebanon.

Based on reporting by Africanews.