Hezbollah-Israel truce deal says only official forces can bear arms in Lebanon

BEIRUT: A ceasefire proposal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel stipulates that only “official military and security forces” in Lebanon are authorised to carry arms in the country, according to a copy of the deal dated yesterday and seen by Reuters today.

It specifically names those forces as the Lebanese armed forces, the internal security forces, general security, state security, Lebanese customs and municipal police.

Officials in both the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah have long referred to cabinet statements since 2008 enshrining the right to “resistance” as providing official approval for Hezbollah’s arsenal.

The truce proposal refers to both sides’ commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, including provisions that refer to the “disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon”.

Hezbollah has not formally commented on the ceasefire but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon’s Al Jadeed TV late yesterday that while the group supported the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.

“Thousands will join the resistance … disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through,” said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon’s parliament.