In brief
Beirut's strategy of disarming Palestinian militias begins in June, with broader implications for Hezbollah's future.
Lebanon's government is set to initiate the disarmament of Palestinian factions residing in its territories starting in June, marking a significant move towards reclaiming state control over armed groups. A spokesperson for the prime minister emphasized the importance of this initiative in establishing authority within the country. This undertaking is seen as a preliminary test before efforts to disarm the more influential Iran-backed militia, Hezbollah.Mohanad Hage Ali, a fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, noted, “This is a test. If this process goes smoothly, it may pave the way for speeding up the disarmament of Hezbollah.” Historically, Lebanon's military and governmental authorities have struggled to assert control amidst a landscape of various armed groups, with Hezbollah holding substantial military advantages over the Lebanese Armed Forces.Palestinian armed groups maintain a significant presence within Lebanon's refugee camps, which house over 200,000 Palestinian refugees according to the United Nations. However, following recent conflicts with Israel that diminished the power of Iranian-backed militias like Hezbollah and Hamas, Lebanon's new administration has taken decisive actions to diminish Hezbollah's influence and bolster its governance.
