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Ambiguity Surrounding the Future of Hezbollah's Weapons: Between Israel and the State's Resolve

As Israeli strikes escalate on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the debate in Lebanon has shifted to focus on the future of Hezbollah's weapons and their role amid ongoing violations by Israel and the lack of internal consensus on the concept of a capable state.
In the "Ninth Hour" program on Sky News Arabia, political writer and researcher Mohamed Hamieh stated that Israel "bears responsibility for violating the ceasefire and Resolution 1701," pointing out that the Lebanese army "has detected thousands of violations since 2006." He emphasized that the Lebanese army "denied the Israeli narrative" claiming the existence of missiles and weapons in the southern suburbs.
While discussing the fate of Hezbollah's arms and its refusal to surrender them to the state, Hamieh acknowledged that the ongoing dialogue addresses "the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the state" rather than "disarmament," within a national vision that preserves sovereignty.
Hamieh revealed that the Lebanese president has tasked channels of communication with Hezbollah to discuss this matter seriously, indicating that the party showed a "conditional openness" to the proposal but raised "legitimate questions," including the continued Israeli occupation of parts of the south and repeated threats.
When asked whether keeping weapons in the hands of Hezbollah provides Israel with a pretext for its continued violations and occupation, Hamieh replied that Israel continues its aggression against Syria despite the absence of an actual threat, asserting that "the Israeli occupation project in the region is not only linked to Hezbollah's weapons but also to a broader agenda seeking regional control."
In another part of the discussion, questions were raised about Hezbollah's participation in Lebanese governments and accusations of establishing a "state within a state" through a parallel financial and military structure. In this context, Hamieh clarified that the Lebanese resistance predates the "Iranian revolution" and that Hezbollah "was established to confront the Israeli occupation, not as an external arm."
He argued that accusations of turning the party into a "state within a state" do not negate its role in liberating the south in 2000 and its contribution to establishing a deterrent equation with Israel since the 2006 war.
Regarding the future of the "defensive strategy," Hamieh emphasized that the ongoing discussions, led by the president and the army commander with Hezbollah, aim to put weapons under a national framework that serves to protect Lebanon from any Israeli aggression, away from the limelight and in the interest of the state and the Lebanese people.
Hamieh concluded by asserting that the local community in the south and the resistance environment "extend their hand to the Lebanese state and the army," calling for the necessity of continuing to assert the state's authority in the south and strengthening the role of the national army as part of the sovereign state project.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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