Paris hails Lebanon disarmament plan as positive step

France has praised the Lebanese cabinet’s recent decision to authorize the army to move forward with a disarmament plan targeting Hezbollah, describing it as “a new positive step.” In a statement, the French foreign ministry urged all Lebanese political forces to back the peaceful execution of the plan “without delay.”

Growing International Pressure

The move comes amid mounting pressure from the United States and concerns that Israel could escalate its military operations in Lebanon. Last month, the Lebanese government tasked the army with drafting a roadmap to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal by the end of the year. On Friday, the cabinet endorsed the proposal, though Hezbollah and its allies boycotted the session.

Information Minister Paul Morcos explained that the plan would be implemented “in accordance with the available capabilities,” while noting that the army commander had raised concerns over significant challenges. Chief among them, he said, were “Israeli attacks,” which complicate any timeline for the initiative.

Conditional Progress

A cabinet statement emphasized that progress depends heavily on “the commitment of other parties, foremost Israel.” Lebanese officials framed the plan as part of a broader U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, which ended over a year of deadly clashes between Hezbollah and Israel last November.

Yet, despite the truce, Israel has continued to launch strikes against Hezbollah positions, insisting its campaign will persist until the group is fully disarmed. Additionally, Israeli forces maintain a presence in five southern Lebanese sites it considers strategically vital.

The combination of regional pressure, international oversight, and domestic divisions highlights the fragility of Lebanon’s security landscape. Whether the Lebanese Army can carry out the disarmament plan will likely hinge not only on its own capacity but also on how both Hezbollah and Israel respond in the coming months.