Lebanon Moves Towards National Dialogue to Limit Weapons to State Control
Conflicting statements from Hezbollah leadership between openness to dialogue and adherence to weapons indicate a political maneuver aimed at buying time and avoiding internal and external pressures
April 12, 2025, 9:56 pm

Lebanon Moves Towards National Dialogue to Limit Weapons to State Control

Statements have recently intensified in Lebanon regarding the necessity of launching a national dialogue to discuss the issue of disarming Hezbollah, especially after official sources revealed that the President of the Republic intends to launch this initiative soon, while Joseph Aoun warned of the dangers of any weapons remaining outside state authority.

The Lebanese President stated in a speech delivered from Baabda Palace on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war: "As long as we all agree that any weapons outside the framework of the state or its decision would endanger Lebanon's interest for more than one reason, it is time for us all to say: Lebanon is protected only by its state, its army, and its official security forces," according to the French News Agency.

Official sources told Al-Arabiya.net on Thursday that "the Presidents of the Republic and Parliament reached an agreement during their meeting days ago to start direct dialogue with Hezbollah to discuss the weapons issue."

The sources explained that "the dialogue will be direct with the party and focused only on the weapons issue, to be expanded later to include discussion of all illegal weapons (including Palestinian weapons), within the national security strategy proposed by the President of the Republic in his oath speech."

Aoun announced on Thursday that Hezbollah has shown flexibility on the issue of cooperation regarding weapons according to a specific timeline, as reported by the Lebanese presidency.

Simultaneously, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah announced the party's readiness to discuss the "defense strategy."

During a press conference from Parliament, he said that the party is ready to enter into talks with the government about a "national defense strategy."

However, he considered that "serious discussion should focus on the facts related to Israeli aggressions and how to confront them within a national strategy and dialogue among those concerned about this nationalism."

He added that "the government is responsible for making any official effort to stop Israeli aggressions and should adhere to what was stated in its ministerial statement."

In the same context, Hezbollah MP Ali Fayad confirmed on Friday the party's openness to any internal dialogue process launched by the Lebanese state to address pending issues, indicating the party's commitment to international resolution 1701 and the ceasefire with Israel.

However, during a speech at an honorary ceremony in Beirut's southern suburbs, he considered that "pressure on the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, financially besieging Lebanon, preventing aid, and obstructing the reconstruction process constitutes a direct threat to Lebanese stability."

He expressed his dissatisfaction with "some political entities and personalities in Lebanon exceeding the rules of political rivalry to a state of hostility."

The issue of limiting weapons to state control, alongside Hezbollah's weapons, represents a complex issue in Lebanon, where President Aoun emphasized in his speech on his election day his rejection of any weapons outside the state framework.

The ceasefire agreement that began implementation on November 27, 2025, stipulated Hezbollah's withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River, dismantling its positions, the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south, in addition to implementing UN Resolution 1701, and restricting weapons to the official Lebanese authorities.

The United States and its envoys who visited Lebanon have repeatedly emphasized the importance of ending the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.