Lebanon seeks peace, but first needs to convince Hezbollah

Since coming to power, President Aoun has defended what he calls a “state arms monopoly” policy. As part of a 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah agreed to withdraw its fighters and weapons from southern Lebanon, an area that has been effectively under the group’s control for decades. Hezbollah also controls the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh and the eastern Bekaa Valley, home to some of its arms depots, but its secretary-general, Naim Qassem, has refused to discuss comprehensive, nationwide disarmament.