Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah mentioned Thursday the group is open to negotiating a nationwide protection technique with the Lebanese authorities, emphasizing that the precedence is expelling Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
U.S.-backed President Joseph Aoun, who pledged to ascertain a state monopoly on the management of arms when he took workplace in January, is ready to start out talks with Hezbollah about its weapons arsenal, three Lebanese political sources instructed Reuters.
One of the world’s most closely armed non-state teams, Hezbollah, emerged severely weakened from the 2024 battle with Israel, which was triggered by the Gaza struggle.
The group suffered heavy losses, together with the killing of its prime leaders and hundreds of its fighters. The blow was compounded when its ally Bashar Assad was toppled from energy in Syria, reducing the group’s provide strains from Iran.
In a televised speech, Fadlallah mentioned: “We have expressed our readiness for dialogue to find a defense strategy for Lebanon.”
He mentioned any significant discussions ought to give attention to confronting Israeli “aggressions” and eradicating Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
“We are in constant contact with President Aoun. When he calls for dialogue and sets national foundations for it, we are ready,” he added.
Israel, which despatched floor troops into south Lebanon in the course of the struggle, has largely withdrawn, though it determined in February to not depart 5 hilltop positions.
It mentioned it supposed finally handy them over to Lebanese troops as soon as it was positive the safety scenario allowed.
A senior Hezbollah official instructed Reuters on Wednesday that the group was ready to have interaction in talks with Aoun about its weapons if Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and halted its army strikes.
Hezbollah’s arsenal, estimated earlier than the most recent battle with Israel at greater than 150,000 missiles and rockets in accordance with the CIA World Factbook, has lengthy been a contentious subject.
The group argues that its weapons are obligatory to discourage Israeli threats.
Hezbollah has persistently rejected calls from its critics in Lebanon to disarm, describing its armament as important for the protection of the nation.
Fadlallah additionally denied reviews suggesting that the group is utilizing Beirut port, which witnessed one of many strongest non-nuclear explosions ever in 2020, to smuggle weapons.
Source: www.dailysabah.com