Lebanon sees first breakthrough in militant disarmament after Palestinian groups hand over weapons

Published August 26, 2025 4:58pm ET



The Lebanese government carried out its first significant disarmament initiative, with Palestinian militants surrendering their weapons in multiple refugee camps.

Hezbollah, which has dominated Lebanese politics since the conclusion of the Lebanese Civil War in the 1990s due to its possession of the most extensive nonstate arsenal in the Middle East, was severely battered after a series of targeted Israeli strikes last year, culminating in an invasion of southern Lebanon. With most of its leadership dead and its fighters in disarray, the Trump administration is eyeing an unprecedented opportunity to disarm the Iranian-backed group and empower Beirut.

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