Lebanese foreign minister ties international aid to disarming of Hezbollah, calls on Israel to withdraw

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji acknowledged in a recent interview that the country's ability to receive international aid is contingent on the disarmament of the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Speaking with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, affiliated with the Saudi royal family, Rajii said that in his recent conversations with U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, the United States specifically mentioned the disarming of Hezbollah as a condition for the free flow of international aid into Lebanon. 

Rajii repeated this message to the Lebanese National News Agency, stating, “Lebanon has been clearly informed that there will be no reconstruction or international aid unless weapons are placed solely under the state's authority north and south of the Litani.” 

“Ortagus mentioned that Lebanon currently has an open window of opportunity, as the US administration wants to help Lebanon liberate its land, begin reconstruction and revive its economy,” Rajji said. 

The foreign minister explicitly noted the need for the state "to exercise full sovereignty over all its territory.” 

“But there are conditions on our part as well – regarding economic reforms, which is a demand not only from the international community but also from Arab Gulf states and within Lebanon itself – and regarding the exclusivity of arms, as the international community wants the Lebanese state to exercise full sovereignty over all its territory, not just south of the Litani,” Rajii said, referring to the agreement under which Hezbollah is to withdraw north of the Litani River, allowing for an Israeli withdrawal as the Lebanese Army assumes control of the vacated positions.

Rajji also emphasized that the handover of territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah “should happen as soon as possible.” 

Earlier this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Hezbollah has shown "a lot of flexibility" regarding discussions around its weapons. 

On Thursday, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah indicated that the terror group is willing to enter talks with the Lebanese government over a national defense strategy and the removal of Israeli troops from the nation’s territory. 

“We have expressed our readiness for dialogue to find a defense strategy for Lebanon,” Fadlallah said in a televised speech, which focused primarily on “aggressions” of the enemy [Israel]. 

“We are in constant contact with President Aoun. When he calls for dialogue and sets national foundations for it, we are ready," Fadlallah added. 

Hezbollah has long maintained that its weapons are essential for deterring Israeli aggression and expansion.

An unnamed “senior Hezbollah official” told Reuters, “Hezbollah is ready to discuss the matter of its arms if Israel withdraws from the five points, and halts its aggression against Lebanese.” 

Foreign Minister Rajii also urged Israel to cooperate by withdrawing from Lebanese territory, saying it would increase pressure on Hezbollah to disarm. 

“If Israel withdraws, Hezbollah will lose its justification for maintaining arms,” Rajji said. 

Meanwhile, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the United States instructed Gulf states, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, not to provide any financial aid to Lebanon until there is clear progress in disarming Hezbollah. 

Israel has continued to carry out limited strikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire agreement. Israel has also accused the Lebanese Army of moving slowly to take over former Hezbollah positions, and of not preventing Hezbollah's attempts to move south of the Litani.