"An Uncomfortable Situation"... Lebanon’s Fragile Status Quo Under Pressure

Pressure on Iran will not lead to a resolution

English version based on the Arabic-language article published by Akhbar al-Yawm

A senior political source has voiced concern over Lebanon’s worsening political climate, warning that recent developments point to growing instability, from repeated incidents involving UN peacekeepers to the unresolved debate over Hezbollah’s weapons.

Speaking to the "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency, the source said ongoing provocations against UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, are alarming, particularly as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has publicly backed its continued deployment. However, "there’s a clear message here", the source said. "UNIFIL’s activities are being challenged on the ground, while the Lebanese army is seen as acceptable. Hezbollah and its allies are effectively reinforcing a reality that limits the UN force’s ability to operate freely, in contradiction to Resolution 1701.”

The source also pointed to a broader stalemate involving international aid and domestic priorities. Western governments continue to link financial assistance to Lebanon’s ability to assert control over all weapons on its territory. But Hezbollah insists that no discussion can take place until Israel fully withdraws and post-war reconstruction begins, effectively ruling out any disarmament in the near future.

In a sign of internal maneuvering, a delegation from Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam earlier this week, in what the source sees as an effort to maintain political calm and avoid direct confrontation with state institutions.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beirut carrying a message that the issue of Hezbollah’s arsenal is a domestic matter, and that Tehran would not intervene or respond to external pressure on the matter.

The source concluded: "Hezbollah does not want to give up its weapons, and this continues to block any progress on the Lebanese front".