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Hezbollah Willing to Discuss Lebanon's Defense Strategy with Government
Beirut, April 10, 2025 — A top Hezbollah lawmaker said the group is open to talking with the Lebanese government about a national defense strategy, with a focus on pushing Israeli forces out of Lebanese territory.
The statement came from Hassan Fadlallah, a senior member of Hezbollah, during a televised speech on Thursday. He said the group is prepared for dialogue and is in regular contact with President Joseph Aoun, who took office in January with U.S. backing.
Focus on Israeli Troop Withdrawal
Fadlallah made it clear that any defense strategy talks must focus on what Hezbollah sees as Israeli aggression, especially the presence of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
“We are in constant contact with President Aoun. When he calls for dialogue and sets national foundations for it, we are ready,” Fadlallah said.
He added that the priority should be removing Israeli forces from Lebanese land and defending the country’s sovereignty.
Aoun Seeks Control Over All Arms
President Aoun has promised to bring all weapons under state control, a key part of his national security plan. According to three political sources in Lebanon, he plans to start discussions with Hezbollah about its vast weapons stockpile.
The talks are expected to be delicate, as Hezbollah’s arsenal has long been a controversial issue in Lebanese politics. The group insists its weapons are needed to protect the country, but critics argue that only the Lebanese military should be armed.
Hezbollah's Losses After 2024 Conflict
Hezbollah came out of the 2024 war with Israel significantly weakened. The fighting, which started after the war in Gaza escalated, led to heavy losses for the group. Several top commanders were killed, and thousands of fighters died.
The situation worsened for Hezbollah when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally, was removed from power. This cut off critical supply routes from Iran, which had helped arm the group for years.
Despite the setbacks, Hezbollah remains one of the most heavily armed non-state actors in the world. According to the CIA World Factbook, the group had over 150,000 missiles and rockets before the latest conflict.
Israel’s Partial Withdrawal
While Israel has mostly pulled back its forces from southern Lebanon, it has held on to five hilltop positions since February. Israeli officials said they plan to eventually turn them over to the Lebanese army, but only when the security situation improves.
A Hezbollah official told Reuters on Wednesday that the group would be open to discussing its weapons—if Israel fully withdraws and stops airstrikes inside Lebanon.
Denial of Arms Smuggling Claims
Fadlallah also pushed back against reports suggesting Hezbollah is using the Beirut port to smuggle weapons. That port was the site of a deadly explosion in 2020, one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts in history.
“There’s no truth to the claims that we use the Beirut port for weapons transfers,” Fadlallah said.
The group continues to argue that its military power is essential for defending Lebanon, especially against Israel.
