Shehadeh calls for disarming Hezbollah 'as soon as possible'
The discussions over Hezbollah's arsenal take place as Hezbollah emerges weakened from the war with Israel that started in October 2023 and escalated in September 2024, and in which much of the party's leadership was assassinated, including the leader himself. Also on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun told Sky News Arabia that 'the decision to remove weapons' not under state control 'applies to the whole of Lebanese territory' but that 'the priority concern is the south of the country' where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
Shehadeh said in the Sputnik interview, relayed by the state-run National News Agency, that Lebanon was "on the path toward a resolution regarding Hezbollah's weapons."
The minister emphasized the need to disarm Hezbollah as soon as possible to obtain foreign support and restore the confidence of the Lebanese in the country, adding that 'no country is willing to invest in the reconstruction of Lebanon if the danger still exists, and the possibility of entering another war may lead to the destruction of what would be built.'
In response to a question about the government's priorities of demilitarization or Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Shehadeh commented: 'Both are priorities and the [cease-fire] agreement is clear: the state must extend its sovereignty over all Lebanese territories... most of the south is now under the control of the Lebanese state apparatus.'
A cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel was reached in late November 2024, but it has since been violated numerous times. Although the Israeli army withdrew from Lebanese villages before Feb. 18, it is still present in five strategic points inside Lebanese territory.
Shehadeh added that all components of the government agree on "an exclusive control of arms, reconstruction and reform of the economy and administration.'
In this context, he revealed that 'the foreign vision of the government's plan, whether in terms of arms control or the start of economic reforms, is good."
'We have obtained confidence from the international community and there is support for the government's plan and a welcoming attitude toward the measures taken to date in terms of legislation and economic reforms,' he said.
Earlier this month, the Cabinet adopted a draft law on banking restructuring. This law is considered crucial concerning the financial reforms that Lebanon must undertake after six years of an exceptionally intense economic and financial crisis.
Last Thursday, the Lebanese parliament approved a long-awaited bill lifting banking secrecy, a key reform on which financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is dependent.
'100,000 IDPs have not returned home'
Regarding the situation of displaced persons in Lebanon, Shehadeh stressed that this file is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Displacement, revealing that 'about 200,000 housing units were destroyed by Israel during the recent war, and about 100,000 people have not returned to their homes.'
He stressed that 'the government's priority is to help the displaced and rebuild these homes, and this is the responsibility of the government as a whole, not just the Ministry of Displacement.'
Regarding Syrian refugees, the minister said: 'The situation in Syria has radically improved and the situation allows for the return of displaced Syrians to their country."
'The money spent in Lebanon to support the Syrians has a negative impact on the Lebanese economy ... if this money were spent to rebuild cities and villages in Syria, it would help create an economic dynamic that Syria needs," he added.
Lebanon hosts more than a million Syrian migrants, who fled the civil war in their country since 2011. Following the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024, many Syrians refugees have returned home. However, last March, massacres on the Syrian coast, in predominantly Alawite villages, drove more than 20,000 Syrians to seek refuge in North Lebanon, primarily in Akkar villages.
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L'Orient-Le Jour
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Five years since Aug. 4: In Lebanon and beyond, justice and truth at the heart of tributes
The call for justice after the explosion at Beirut Port, as Lebanon still awaits the indictments from investigative judge Tarek Bitar, remains central to the responses that poured in from all sides Monday, on the fifth anniversary of the catastrophe. Confronted with clear demands for truth and justice from victims' relatives, religious leaders and political parties, as well as the international community, Lebanese leaders once again committed themselves to ensuring those responsible would not go unpunished. President Joseph Aoun stated that the Lebanese state and "all its institutions" are committed to establishing the truth about the disaster, "no matter the obstacles and regardless of the rank of those concerned." "Justice knows no exceptions, and the law applies to all without distinction," he wrote in a statement. "Today, five years after this tragedy, we stand before the souls of the martyrs, the injured and their families, and all Lebanese, to affirm that justice will not die, and those responsible will be held accountable," Aoun added, stating that this case is an "absolute priority" of his mandate. The investigation led by investigative judge at the Court of Justice, Tarek Bitar, was relaunched last January after two years of political and judicial obstructions. Since taking on the case, Bitar has been the target of numerous lawsuits and requests for removal by former ministers and current or former judicial and military officials charged with negligence or professional misconduct, notably regarding the unloading and years-long storage of ammonium nitrate that caused the blast. In recent months, Judge Bitar summoned several of these figures, some of whom, such as former state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, failed to appear at their hearings. The explosion killed at least 235 people, wounded thousands more — some of whom are still suffering years later — and destroyed entire neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital. Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, who visited the Beirut fire station in the Qarantina area and laid a wreath at the memorial to firefighters killed in the Aug. 4 explosion, called for "the truth about the port explosion to be revealed and justice to prevail as soon as possible,' assuring that 'justice is completely independent, and the government supports its decisions.' "The Aug. 4 explosion is a crime against humanity, and blocking the investigation for years is an even more heinous crime," wrote Energy Minister Joe Saddi on X. "Uncovering the truth and bringing the criminals to justice is a national necessity, not only out of loyalty to the souls of the victims, the pain of the wounded, and the suffering of their relatives, but also to revive faith in our country and in the future of our children." The Minister of the Displaced and State Minister for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Kamal Shehadi, reiterated his "commitment to no longer tolerate the negligence and corruption endangering the lives of the Lebanese." Lebanese political parties and figures The Lebanese Forces said, "one question has returned incessantly for five years to everyone's lips: where is the justice, once our pride? Why is the investigation not advancing?" According to the party, in a statement from its Beirut office, "the investigation is not advancing because certain groups have decided it will not, that the truth must be suppressed," a likely reference to Hezbollah. "Aug. 4 is more than just a memory — it's a lesson reminding us of the importance and necessity of a sovereign state, master of its decisions, with effective institutions fully responsible for the lives of Lebanese," wrote Progressive Socialist Party leader Taymour Joumblatt on X. "The investigation must proceed to its conclusion, and justice should follow its course, honoring the truth, the souls of the martyrs, the pain of the wounded and families, and all affected people." Baha Hariri, eldest son of Rafik Hariri, who returned to Beirut last week with the intent to reenter Lebanese politics, said, "Punishing the perpetrators is a national and ethical duty that cannot be delayed." He also stressed that "ports and entry points must be under the exclusive control of the state, and that storing dangerous materials, which put Lebanese and residents at risk, is unacceptable." For Hezbollah, tributes centered on warnings against foreign interference. Grand Mufti Ahmad Qabalan, close to the party, stated, "Lebanon is a wounded homeland, a tormented partnership," and that "nothing is more important than protecting Lebanon from the games of nations." Shiite cleric Ali Fadlallah said the port explosion's memory is a "national and humanitarian cause concerning all Lebanese," urging that it 'not be sectarianized, politicized, or exploited for internal power games.' "Everyone should strive for justice and truth, away from procrastination and dithering, so that those proven involved are punished and this tragedy never recurs in this country," he added. Lebanese institutions General Security, represented by Director Hassan Shoucair, who laid a wreath at the martyrs' statue at Beirut Port, called for a "fair and thorough investigation into this heinous crime." Former General Security Director Abbas Ibrahim is among those whom Judge Tarek Bitar has prosecuted. In a brief statement, the State Security agency paid tribute to the victims and affirmed that it "remains committed to protecting the nation, beyond the pain." Former State Security chief Tony Saliba is also among those summoned by Judge Bitar in recent months. Members of the Lebanese Civil Defense laid a wreath at the Beirut Port martyrs' memorial, honoring their sacrifice. "We will never forget them," Civil Defense wrote on X. The international community U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement that "progress in the judicial process" is now essential for justice to be served. "It is imperative that the government does everything necessary to accelerate judicial proceedings related to the explosion," she argued, while congratulating Parliament for passing the justice independence law last Thursday. "Five years after the terrible explosion at the Port of Beirut, Lebanese authorities have still not provided justice to the victims and their families," Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint statement. "It is vital to conduct a thorough and unimpeded investigation to establish the full chain of responsibility," the organizations added. "Despite repeated calls at the national and international levels over the past five years for the perpetrators to be prosecuted, Lebanese authorities have not conducted an effective, independent, and impartial investigation into the explosion." The British Embassy in Lebanon announced on X that its flag was at half-mast and said that "the families of the victims deserve justice, truth and accountability." "France commends efforts to shed full light and deliver justice for the victims and all affected by the tragedy," according to a post by the French Embassy in Lebanon on X. "As Lebanese authorities have emphasized, ending impunity is essential for Lebanon's recovery, because without justice, there can be no rule of law." "We stand by the Lebanese people in their call for accountability," wrote the U.S. Embassy in Beirut on X. "Lebanon deserves an independent and impartial judiciary, one that delivers justice to victims instead of protecting elites." "The United States remains committed to a sovereign, stable, and prosperous Lebanon, shaped by its people and not by outside forces," it added. During a prayer vigil organized Sunday evening in Beirut, a message from Pope Leo XIV was read in tribute to the victims. Olive trees planted in their memory were also blessed. In his message to Lebanese worshippers, the pontiff expressed his 'compassion for all with broken hearts,' as well as for those 'suffering from the loss of loved ones' and those 'injured or who have lost everything as a result of this disaster.' "I implore the merciful Father to welcome into his house of rest, light and peace all those who lost their lives," the pope said, stating that "the beloved and suffering Lebanon remains in [his] prayers." He commended the Lebanese people to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Saint Sharbel, and the country's saints, granting his apostolic blessing "as a sign of consolation." Avichay Adraee, Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, also published a message on X in which he sharply denounces Hezbollah's supposed central role in the Aug. 4 explosion.
L'Orient-Le Jour
7 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Amnesty International, HRW call for an unimpeded investigation
Lebanese authorities have still not delivered justice to the victims of the deadly Beirut Port explosion, five years after the event, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said Monday in a joint statement. "Lebanese authorities have still not delivered truth and justice to the victims and their families," the two NGOs wrote, calling the explosion on Aug. 4, 2020, which killed at least 235 people, injured more than 6,000, and devastated much of the capital, "devastating." They called on "Lebanese authorities to ensure a thorough and unimpeded investigation." "It is imperative that this investigation thoroughly establishes the facts and circumstances of the explosion, covers the entire chain of responsibility, whether national or international, and determines whether criminal acts or human rights violations were committed due to the state's failure to protect lives," they added. "Despite repeated calls, both nationally and internationally ... Lebanese authorities have not conducted an effective, independent and impartial investigation into the explosion," the two organizations said. The resumption of the national investigation in 2025, after a two-year suspension, has still not produced conclusive results. According to Amnesty and HRW, "the investigation has been marred by persistent obstruction and interference by political leaders and state officials determined to evade justice." "For families of the victims, this prolonged refusal to provide accountability is an unbearable burden," they added. "Justice delayed is justice denied," said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International's campaigner for Lebanon. "The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have been waiting for five unbearable years. They must not be forced to endure yet another year of impunity. The time to deliver justice, shed light and demand accountability is now." According to HRW and Amnesty International, "rather than facilitating the investigation, several political leaders and senior officials summoned by lead investigating judge Tarek Bitar — including generals, judges, MPs and former ministers — have consistently sought to derail the proceedings." "They have refused to attend interrogation sessions, invoking various forms of immunity, and have filed a series of legal challenges against Judge Bitar, repeatedly halting the investigation," they stated. The organizations noted that in January 2023, "the then attorney general, Ghassan Oueidat, who had himself been charged by Judge Bitar —filed a complaint against Bitar, effectively suspending the investigation." Judge Oueidat also "ordered the release of suspects who had been held in pretrial detention since the explosion" and "instructed security forces and the public prosecutor's office to cease all cooperation with the judge." After a two-year interruption, the investigating judge resumed his work in February 2025, "amid renewed political promises" by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, "aimed at upholding the rule of law and guaranteeing justice to the victims." This resumption was made possible by "the lifting of measures imposed by the previous attorney general that had frozen the investigation," Amnesty International and HRW explained. Some summoned officials, "such as former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, Abbas Ibrahim and Tony Saliba, have complied with the process and appeared for the first time in years." Conversely, "other officials, including two MPs, Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zaiter, as well as Ghassan Oueidat, continue to obstruct the investigation by refusing to submit to questioning." "Despite the resumption of the investigation, the path to justice remains strewn with political and legal obstacles," Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch added. Lebanese authorities must promptly remove the barriers that have repeatedly blocked the investigation and ensure that it can proceed without political interference. They also noted that a 2021 investigation by Human Rights Watch "concluded that the explosion was the direct result of Lebanese authorities' failure to respect their human rights obligations, including the right to life, and pointed to possible involvement of senior officials." "Justice for the Beirut Port explosion is not only about accountability for a single event," said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. "It is a test of Lebanon's professed commitment to the rule of law and human rights."
L'Orient-Le Jour
7 hours ago
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On the eve of government meeting, Hezbollah says 'resistance is the only choice and support for the Lebanese Army'
On the eve of the Cabinet meeting focused on the disarmament of armed factions in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, the party released a video Monday night in which it said that resistance was "the only choice and support for the Lebanese Army." "The disarmament of Hezbollah is a deliberate Israeli goal. We reaffirm that we are always ready to discuss any national defense strategy," can be heard in the video titled "Our choice is resistance," with the voice of the former head of the party, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last September by an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The video continued with words from Hezbollah's current secretary-general, Naim Qassem, who stated that "the protection of Lebanon's sovereignty and the liberation of its land, the cessation of any form of Israeli aggression, and the use of the strength of the resistance and its weapons within the framework of a defense strategy that allows us to free our land and protect the country." "We reject any measure that weakens Lebanon ... Resistance was created out of necessity: to confront [the Israeli enemy]." "It has turned out to be the only choice and support for the Lebanese army," the video said. Hezbollah continues to denounce any pressure regarding its disarmament before an actual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, pointing to what it considers Israel's failure to abide by the truce agreed upon last November. The group also warned against the manipulation of the issue, which it says could turn the matter into a "Lebanese-Lebanese" problem, while Lebanese authorities are calling for a clear decision regarding the state's monopoly over weapons.
