In brief
Lebanon's government aims for state control over weapons by disarming Palestinian factions, potentially paving the way to disarm Hezbollah.
Lebanon has announced plans to disarm armed Palestinian factions in its refugee camps starting in June. This move signifies an effort to reclaim state authority and control over weapons, especially after recent wars with Israel weakened Iranian-backed militias like Hezbollah and Hamas. Mohanad Hage Ali from the Carnegie Middle East Center noted this operation as a "test" for a more significant challenge: disarming Hezbollah, which has historically overshadowed the Lebanese Armed Forces in military strength.Lebanon’s strategy involves dismantling the influence of various armed groups outside state control, particularly within overcrowded and impoverished Palestinian refugee camps where the Lebanese army typically does not venture. The disarmament initiative comes as the Lebanese government aims to solidify its power and diminish Hezbollah's longstanding dominance, signaling a potential shift in Lebanon's political landscape. The success of disarming these factions could rapidly influence further efforts against Hezbollah, paving the way for a more centralized authority in Lebanon's troubled governance.
