Hezbollah warns Lebanon will face civil war if Beirut pursues disarmament

Iranian-backed terror group accuses Lebanese government of “crime” of attempting to restore sovereignty by disarming Hezbollah and other groups, warns disarmament program will lead to civil war.

By World Israel News Staff

A senior Hezbollah leader warned on Wednesday that efforts by the Lebanese government to adhere to the ceasefire deal with Israel by disarming terrorist groups could lead to a civil war, vowing that his group will defy Beirut’s attempts to demilitarize Hezbollah.

In an interview with the Russian state mouthpiece RT, Hezbollah’s Mahmoud Qmati excoriated the Lebanese government for seeking to restore a state monopoly on military forces north of the Litani River, calling it “the biggest crime committed by the state.”

Qmati said that while Hezbollah forces would not attack Lebanese soldiers, if Beirut attempts to impose disarmament on Hezbollah and other armed groups, it will lead to “chaos” and possibly civil war.

“The path taken by the Lebanese government and state institutions will lead Lebanon to instability, chaos and perhaps even civil war,” he said.

While Lebanon and Hezbollah agreed more than a year ago that all armed forces outside of the Lebanese army must be disarmed, the Shi’ite terror group has insisted it will not comply until after the IDF leaves the five outposts established on the Lebanese side of the border to prevent terrorist infiltrations.

“There will be no talk or dialogue about any situation north of the Litani River before Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territory, liberates the south and the prisoners, and stops its violations against Lebanon,” Qmati continued.

The truce was brokered in November 2024 by the US and France, with Israel agreeing to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon and halt strikes north of the Litani River, in exchange for a commitment by Beirut to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, including the disarmament of all paramilitary groups.

The US has granted Israel the right to maintain five small military enclaves in southern Lebanon until the area has been demilitarized and Hezbollah disarmed.

Lebanon announced last week that it has effectively regained control over southern Lebanon, from the Israeli frontier to the Litani River, and vowed it would begin work disarming Hezbollah north of the Litani.