Lara Yazbek – Call of the Nation
A few days separate us from the Army Commander, General Rudolph Heikal, presenting the plan to restrict weapons north of the Litani, before the Council of Ministers. Immediately upon his return from the United States, where he has been holding a series of meetings since the beginning of the week that will continue until February 5, a cabinet session will be called at Baabda Palace, which Heikal will attend, to present the details of the second phase of the plan, with maps, numbers, and dates.
Government green light
Informed official sources reveal to “Nidaa al-Watan” that this road map is now ready, and that Heikal carried it with him to Washington. It delves into the details of the Litani-Initial stage, but it also addresses the broad lines of the following stages, from the north of the Initial to Beirut, the Bekaa, and the entire Lebanese territory.
The Army Commander requested, in the United States, American and international military support for the military establishment, and this is what he will repeat in more than one foreign visit that he will make before the Lebanese Army Support Conference scheduled to be held next March in Paris, where he will travel between Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Qatar, calling on the major capitals to participate strongly in the conference, in a way that will help the army implement its plan in the best way.
While the sources indicate that this support is conditional on the military establishment, or rather the Lebanese political authority, showing a firm determination to move forward with the decision to restrict weapons to the state, they say that Heikal is militarily, practically, and field-ready to implement his plan, but he is waiting for a clear and absolute green light and ample cover from the Lebanese government, to proceed.
Session scenario
Here is the biggest challenge. According to the sources, the Council of Ministers will witness, in its next session, a repetition of the scenario of the sessions of last August 5 and 7. The majority of the government, headed by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, is moving toward approving the plan north of the river and asking Heikal to begin implementing it, not because it is an international request, but because arms control is necessary for the establishment of a state in Lebanon in accordance with what is contained in the Taif Agreement and in the ministerial statement, and because it is essential for the success of the army support conference. On the other hand, it seems that the ministers of the “Amal” – “Hezbollah” duo will withdraw from the session, rejecting the decision, and in line with the “party’s” position rejecting any “additional concessions by Lebanon before the Israeli side stops its attacks, withdraws from the south, and releases the prisoners.” In addition, the “party” considers that the effects of the October 27, 2024 agreement and Resolution 1701 are limited to the south of the Litani.
Design that doesn’t budge
The sources talk about communications taking place today behind the scenes between Baabda and Ain al-Tineh to cool the atmosphere on the eve of the session and mitigate the “party’s” position, but they point out that this task is not easy. In light of the anticipation of the fate of the US-Iranian negotiations, the “party” is becoming more stringent than ever before. Meanwhile, Berri is still going along with the “party” on the issue of restricting weapons, especially since the Israeli escalation in the south continues.
But despite all this intransigence, the sources confirm that the government decision will be issued and the army will implement it, amid an unwavering Lebanese presidential governmental determination, and a conviction that is taking hold, that there is no effective protection for Lebanon except by extending legitimacy alone along the 10,452 km2, and this is what President Aoun repeated yesterday when he said, “The return of foreign countries’ confidence in Lebanon and their support is a natural result of what we are rebuilding the state on firm foundations.” In terms of extending the authority of the law and implementing the exclusivity of weapons, these are two irreversible matters, regardless of the considerations, and we are working to achieve them rationally, realistically and responsibly.”
