Hezbollah has indicated it might consider disarming if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon and ceases its attacks, according to recent reports.

As calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament in Lebanon intensify, a senior Hezbollah official told Reuters that the organization is ready to discuss disarmament with the Lebanese President if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon and halts its attacks.

Three Lebanese political sources noted that US-backed President Joseph Aoun pledged to ensure full state control of weapons when he assumed office in January and plans to begin discussions with Hezbollah on this matter soon.

Discussions about disarmament have gained momentum following last year’s conflict with Israel and the shifting power dynamics resulting from the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Hezbollah.

According to Reuters, “Hezbollah was significantly weakened in the 2024 conflict with Israel; it lost senior leaders and thousands of fighters, and a large portion of its rocket arsenal was destroyed.” The report summarized the situation as follows:

A senior Hezbollah official stated that the organization is prepared to discuss its weapons within the context of a national defense strategy, contingent on Israel withdrawing its forces from five points in southern Lebanon.

The official told Reuters, “If Israel withdraws from the five points and ceases its attacks on Lebanon, Hezbollah is ready to discuss disarmament.”

During the war, Israel conducted a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and largely withdrew after a ceasefire. However, in February, Israel decided not to abandon five strategic points, stating it would hand over these positions to Lebanese forces once the security situation allowed.

Despite a ceasefire in effect since November, Israeli airstrikes continue to exert pressure on Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Washington demands Hezbollah’s disarmament and is preparing for nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Hezbollah has been regarded as Iran’s most powerful armed group in the region, but the ousting of Assad has disrupted its supply lines to Iran.

Reuters reported on Monday that some Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq are considering disarming for the first time to avoid escalating conflict with the US.

Hezbollah has long rejected calls for disarmament from its opponents in Lebanon, asserting that its weapons are necessary to defend the country against Israel. These deep divisions led to a brief civil war in 2008.

Opponents argue that Hezbollah unilaterally drags the country into conflicts and that its large arsenal, operating outside state control, undermines state authority.

The US-brokered ceasefire stipulates the removal of all unauthorized military installations and the collection of weapons, starting from south of the Litani River.

Two sources close to Hezbollah said the organization is considering handing over its most effective weapons, such as drones and anti-tank missiles north of the Litani River, to the army.

President Aoun has stated that Hezbollah’s weapons can only be addressed through dialogue, as forced disarmament could trigger a new conflict.

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai stated last week that all weapons should be under state control but emphasized that this requires time and diplomacy, adding that “Lebanon cannot afford another war.”

A Lebanese official said that communication channels have been opened with relevant stakeholders to “begin work on transferring weapons to state control” after the army and security forces expand state authority throughout Lebanon, noting that this is a move to implement Aoun’s policy.

The official added that the issue was also discussed with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah, who plays a crucial role in resolving differences.

During her visit to Beirut over the weekend, US Representative Morgan Ortagus reiterated Washington’s position, stating that Hezbollah and other armed groups should be disarmed as soon as possible and that this task falls to the Lebanese army.

In an interview with Lebanon’s LBCI television on April 6, Ortagus said, “It is clear that Hezbollah must be disarmed. It is also clear that Israel will not tolerate terrorists attacking its territory. This is a position we understand.”

Minister Kamal Shehadi, a member of the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party, stated that some ministers have requested a timeline for disarmament. Speaking to Reuters, Shehadi said that the process should not exceed six months, similar to the period applied to the disarmament of militias after the civil war.

He stated that a timeline-based approach, which sets a specific end date for the process, is “the only way to protect citizens from the recurrence of attacks that cause loss of life, economic damage, and destruction.”

The latest conflict began when Hezbollah opened fire in October 2023 in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a speech on March 29 that the group no longer has an armed presence south of the Litani River and is adhering to the ceasefire, but that Israel is “violating it every day.” Israel claims that Hezbollah still maintains military infrastructure in the south.

Hezbollah argues that the responsibility for Israel’s withdrawal and cessation of attacks lies with the Lebanese state. Qassem noted that there is still time for diplomatic solutions, but if Israel does not comply with an agreement, “the resistance is ready” and may resort to “other options.”

According to claims, Türkiye and Israel are negotiating a mechanism to prevent direct conflict in Syria amid rising tensions. It is alleged that the parties are considering establishing a communication line.

Türkiye and Israel, seeking to increase their influence in Syria after the end of the Bashar al-Assad administration, are reportedly in contact to establish a de-confliction line to prevent mutual misunderstandings or direct conflict. According to Western officials speaking to Middle East Eye, these talks gained momentum after Israel bombed the T4 airbase, where Türkiye wanted to deploy.

The report states that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes progress has been made on a de-confliction arrangement with Türkiye after the attacks, and that negotiations are ongoing. It was noted that Netanyahu is particularly insistent that no armed elements, including the Turkish military presence, be present in the southern regions of Syria.

Another source confirmed that direct contact was established between Ankara and Tel Aviv after the attacks on the T4 base, and that these contacts aimed to establish a de-confliction line. The source commented, “Immediately after the attacks, Turkish and Israeli officials said they did not want to clash with each other, using similar expressions. These statements seemed coordinated.”

It is suggested that Israel may remain silent or even accept the establishment of Turkish military bases in Hama and Palmyra, even if it uses harsh rhetoric in public. The same source argued that the US also favors reducing tensions in the region and therefore indirectly supports the process.

Sources speaking to Middle East Eye claimed that Netanyahu informed his counterparts that he had “limited time to attack the T4 base before Türkiye started to deploy militarily.” According to this, Netanyahu said that “after Türkiye enters, the base will be closed to Israeli operations.” The report stated, “The Turkish army being attacked by Israel, even by mistake, would carry the risk of triggering a major conflict. However, bringing air defense systems to the bases would also deter Israeli planes from operating in the region.”

Immediately after the air strikes, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ankara of trying to establish a “protectorate regime” in Syria. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz also said that he had “warned” Syrian President and HTŞ leader Abu Ahmed Shara about “enemy forces.”

Despite Israel’s harsh messages after the T4 attack, signals of softening were later given from both Türkiye and Israel. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a statement to Reuters that Türkiye has no intention of direct military conflict with Israel. Similar statements came from senior Israeli officials as well.

Netanyahu, in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, stated that Israel does not want conflict with Türkiye on Syrian territory and that they discussed steps to eliminate this risk with Trump. Netanyahu pointed to Trump’s good relations with President Erdoğan, suggesting that Washington could play a mediating role.

Trump also said in the meeting, “If you have a problem with Türkiye, I believe I can solve it. I hope it won’t be necessary.” Trump, who referred to Erdoğan as “my great friend,” made remarkable statements for Erdoğan: “He achieved what no one has done for 2000 years, he took Syria.”

The normalization process between Türkiye and Israel, which began in mid-2023, was interrupted by the large-scale military operation launched by Israel in Gaza on October 7.

The Israel Manufacturers Association has warned that the 17% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on Israeli products could deal a $2.3 billion blow to the Israeli economy, potentially causing between 18,000 and 26,000 job losses.

This warning came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure to Washington.

While Israel had hoped to avoid the tariffs announced by Trump, it removed all taxes on goods imported from the US last week. However, it still faces a 17% tariff from the US.

According to The Times of Israel, Israel Manufacturers Association President Dr. Ron Tomer, in a letter to Netanyahu, requested an urgent initiative with the Trump administration to remove these tariffs by using all possible means.

According to the analysis published by the association and presented to Netanyahu, if the tariff remains at 17%, Israel’s exports will suffer a $2.3 billion loss, and between 18,000 and 26,000 Israelis will be at risk of losing their jobs.

The association also warned that if Trump expands the tariffs to include the pharmaceutical and chip sectors, which have not yet been affected, the damage to Israel’s exports could reach $3 billion.

The areas expected to be most affected include biotechnology, plastics, metals, chemicals and fuels, and high technology, including robotics and electronic components.

The US is Israel’s largest trading partner. In 2024, the US imported over $13.5 billion worth of products from Israel.

Tomer stated in his letter that the tariffs could negatively impact Israel’s overall economic competitiveness, its capacity to attract investment, and its technological superiority. In a worse-case scenario, taxes on electronic products could also directly and negatively affect the export of software and IT services, he warned.

“In light of the expected serious consequences, the government needs to prevent the implementation of these tariffs by using all the diplomatic and economic tools at its disposal,” said Tomer, arguing that the damage to the Israeli economy could be prevented with decisive and rapid steps.