Report: Army chief refuses clash with Hezbollah as army prepares four-stage plan
Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal has told Speaker Nabih Berri that he does not want to clash with Hezbollah, in a meeting Tuesday at Ain el-Tineh, pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newpaper reported.
Al-Akhbar said Wednesday that it has learned from prominent sources that the meeting with Berri was "positive" and that Haykal has told both Berri and Hezbollah that Hezbollah's disarmament requires dialogue and understanding and that the disarmament plan "cannot be implemented by force."
The Lebanese government had ordered the army to devise plans by the end of 2025 to disarm Hezbollah. "The problem is with the authority not with the army," Haykal reportedly told Berri, describing Hezbollah as a "fundamental Lebanese component."
According to the daily's sources, the army has begun preparing a four-stage plan, targeting heavy missile weapons.
This plan intersects with an American proposal of a four-stage plan starting from the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, followed by the Bekaa, Beirut's southern suburbs, and Greater Beirut, al-Akhbar said.
13 August 2025, 17:59
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HOW EMBARRASSING! CLEARLY A HIZBOLLAH-APPROVED APPOINTEE. Our public debt of 100 billion is accruing interests. The interest at 10% (no one will loan us at 10% not even 20% considering the risks) is $833 million every month (not accounting for legal fees). The 8 months delay to disarm Iran criminal mercenaries since president election has cost our people over $6.7 billion. Not to mention allowing HizbIran to re-arm and recruit new brainwashed thugs while government taxing people and borrowing millions to pay for Hizb health care and compensation. Complete disgrace! We are still waiting for Hizb assassins and their chain in command who murdered Hariri, Tueni, Shateh, Jemayel, Slim and dozens others to be brought to justice! With this army chief hell will froze over before justice and sovereignty are restored!
