Chadi Hileneh - "Akhbar al-Yawm"

Era of State Sovereignty Begins... Disarmament Talks Underway

Aoun to inform Lebanese: "What was once impossible is now a reality"

President Joseph Aoun struck a firm tone in his latest remarks, declaring that the decision to consolidate arms under state authority has been made, through dialogue. His remarks were widely interpreted as a message to Hezbollah, signaling that the era has changed and that the imperative of state sovereignty can no longer be delayed. This marks a potential turning point toward a long-awaited goal: the restoration of full sovereign decision-making.

Aoun disclosed that the Lebanese Army had dismantled tunnels and seized weapons in areas south of the Litani River, operations that were carried out without objection from Hezbollah. These developments came as First Adjutant Fadi Mohammad Al-Jassem was martyred in southern Lebanon following three successive explosions inside a Hezbollah tunnel in the Wadi Al-Aaziyeh area, in the Tyre district.

Observers believe the president’s words suggest a degree of flexibility on Hezbollah’s part, possibly indicating that preliminary communications are underway, even as the group waits for the outcome of U.S.-Iranian negotiations in Muscat.

Sources familiar with the process told "Akhbar al-Yawm" that the dialogue will take place out of the public eye, with no media coverage. If it advances, discussions are expected to shift into a technical phase, involving representatives from both the Lebanese Armed Forces and Hezbollah, with the aim of agreeing on a mechanism for the handover of weapons. A similar mechanism was reportedly used in the south during the transfer of tunnel infrastructure.

While no official timeline has been set, preparations are progressing in a quiet and measured manner. The process will remain confined to closed-door discussions, as hopes build for a future public declaration by President Aoun, declaring that "what was once deemed impossible is now a reality".