Lebanese president meets Hezbollah MP amid tensions over arms

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
1 Aug 2025 05:03
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad amid calls to disarm all armed factions, including Hezbollah.

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In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a ceremony marking Army Day at the Lebanese Defense Ministry in Yarzeh, near Beirut, Lebanon, on July 31, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun held a high-level meeting with the Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, on Thursday at the Baabda Presidential Palace. The talks come at a sensitive juncture, following remarks made by the president earlier in the day that sparked widespread political concern.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent confirmed that the meeting took place shortly after President Aoun delivered a speech on the occasion of Lebanese Army Day, in which he called on the United States to halt Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty by land, air, and sea.

However, Aoun also demanded “the withdrawal of all weapons from armed factions in the country, including Hezbollah.”

The series of discussions forms part of broader consultations aimed at preventing Lebanon from sliding into further political instability, a scenario many believe is being instigated by foreign powers seeking to weaken the Resistance.

Hezbollah’s arms central to Lebanon’s deterrence

While President Aoun's remarks were framed as a call for national unity under the banner of the army, critics argue that any attempt to target Hezbollah’s arms serves Israeli interests and undermines Lebanon’s deterrence capability, especially amid ongoing Israeli threats and near-daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

The Resistance emphasizes that Hezbollah’s weapons are not merely an internal matter, but a strategic necessity that has defended Lebanon against Israeli aggression and terrorism.

The consultations are expected to continue in the coming days, as local parties weigh the implications of foreign pressure and internal dynamics, seeking to maintain internal cohesion in the face of external provocation.