Lebanese President Aoun and Hezbollah clash over weapons control, trust erodes

When Joseph Aoun assumed the presidency in early 2025, Hezbollah’s backing ended a prolonged vacancy, yet their core disagreement over the militia’s autonomy persisted. Aoun’s inaugural and Army Day speeches emphasized that only the Lebanese state and its armed forces should bear arms, urging Hezbollah to align with the state. Hezbollah’s spokesperson Youssef al-Zein rejected these calls, insisting that disarmament must follow Israel’s pull-out from southern Lebanon.

The dispute intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on 2 March, leading the government to ban the group’s security operations and direct the army to collect weapons north of the Litani River. Sources close to both parties say trust has collapsed, with Hezbollah demanding a reversal of the ban and the presidency insisting that state authority over war and peace is non-negotiable. Communication continues through low-level channels, but no high-level talks have resumed, raising doubts about Lebanon’s security framework and Hezbollah’s future role.