Why Lebanon failed to seize its best chance to disarm Hezbollah

Key points

• A few months ago, Lebanon's leaders believed they had a rare opportunity to weaken Hezbollah's grip on the country.
• Iran backed group had been weakened by months of fighting.
• When a US-backed ceasefire paused fighting in late 2024, there was a moment when Lebanon believed they might finally succeed where others had failed.
• According to a report by The New York Times, the ceasefire agreement called for Hezbollah to gradually disarm, especially from areas south of the Litani River near the Israeli border.
• The effort gained momentum after Lebanon elected a new president and prime minister in early 2025. Both promised to strengthen state authority and reduce the influence of armed groups operating outside government control.