"Beirut Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun could be facing the most critical period of his one-year tenure in the coming weeks and months. In February, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief of staff Rodolphe Haykal is set to visit Washington, DC. Also in February, the LAF will present a plan for phase two of Hezbollah's disarmament. Then in March, an international conference will be held in Paris in support of the Lebanese army."
"These events come amid increasing United States and Israeli pressure on Lebanon and on Aoun, a former armed forces chief himself, to continue the effort to disarm Hezbollah. They also come as Israeli attacks in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley intensify, and as Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem states that his group will not accept disarmament north of the Litani River, which flows across south Lebanon, unless Israel starts to abide by the ceasefire agreed in November 2024."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun faces mounting pressure to disarm Hezbollah while pursuing diplomacy and international support. In February the Lebanese Armed Forces chief will visit Washington, and the LAF will present a plan for phase two of Hezbollah's disarmament; an international conference in March in Paris will support the Lebanese army. United States and Israeli pressure is increasing as Israeli attacks in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley intensify. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem refuses disarmament north of the Litani River unless Israel abides by the November 2024 ceasefire. The LAF is undermanned, underfunded and underequipped, limiting its capacity to enforce disarmament.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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