Egypt and Saudi Arabia are advancing a new framework aimed at ending the fighting in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to keep its weapons, according to a report in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is close to the terror group.
Instead of disarming Hezbollah, the proposal relies on a pledge from the organization not to use its arsenal, alongside a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and expanded authority for the Lebanese army in the region.
1+According to the report, Cairo and Riyadh are discussing a plan that includes an immediate ceasefire, strengthened monitoring mechanisms for enforcement on the ground, and a rapid timeline for the IDF to withdraw from southern Lebanon. After the withdrawal, the Lebanese army would assume full responsibility for the evacuated areas, while Saudi Arabia would assist in reconstruction efforts.
The Egyptian approach doesn’t focus on collecting Hezbollah’s weapons or dismantling the organization’s military infrastructure, the report claims, but rather on “freezing” the use of those weapons. That means relying on Hezbollah’s commitment to refrain from military activity, without requiring actual disarmament.
1+The report also noted that Egypt is working to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese army to enable it to play a more central role in the south. However, according to sources, the framework has not received support from the United States so far, prompting Cairo to work on building a broader Arab-Islamic position that could pressure the American administration.
According to Al-Akhbar, Egyptian officials believe a political settlement in Lebanon can be advanced through cooperation with Hezbollah and rehabilitation of the country’s political system, without triggering internal conflict over the weapons issue. Cairo also believes there’s no realistic prospect for progress in U.S.-sponsored negotiations as long as the central demand remains Hezbollah’s disarmament, the report claimed.