The south-north Litani ambiguity: Bassil discusses thorny Hezbollah disarmament

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil discussed Hezbollah's disarmament in a televised interview, in which he said that for Hezbollah to hand over its arms Lebanon must work on a comprehensive strategy to protect the country.

Lebanon "must simultaneously secure an Israeli withdrawal and defense agreements with countries, such as the United States, in order to convince Hezbollah to hand over its weapons. A comprehensive policy to protect Lebanon must be established," he told talk show host Marcel Ghanem on Thursday evening.

Bassil said he opposes Hezbollah's "offensive" in support of Gaza, and supports instead a "defense strategy" that protects Lebanon, adding that even though the alliance with Hezbollah "collapsed" in 2022, it does not mean that Hezbollah is an enemy. "They are an important component of the country, and we must deal with them."

He said he wants a solution to Hezbollah's weapons as long as it does not cause a civil war, but blamed Lebanese political parties for failing to discuss a defense strategy that would protect Lebanon and the Lebanese.

Bassil said Hezbollah agreed to the ceasefire deal with Israel but that there are ambiguities over its disarmament north of the Litani river. He said there are claims that President Joseph Aoun told Hezbollah before his election that there will be a separation between the north and the south of the Litani river.

Bassil said the FPM relation with President Aoun is good and he hopes it gets better. "The President cannot be held alone responsible for the situation in the country," he went on to say.

The Lebanese army announced last month the completion of the disarmament plan south of the Litani, and will now move to the north of the river.

Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said there are no armed presence neither south nor north of the Litani, but Hezbollah argues that the ceasefire agreement stipulates Hezbollah only disarm south of the Litani while opponents such as the Lebanese Forces say the ceasefire agreement doesn't say Hezbollah must only disarm south of the Litani, but that the disarmament would start from there.

Bassil criticized LF Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji for "granting Israel legitimacy" to attack Lebanon.

Rajji had said last month that "Israel unfortunately has the right" to continue its attacks as long as Hezbollah has not fully disarmed.

"As a sovereigntist, I do not accept the granting of legitimacy to those who attack Lebanon," Bassil said.