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Hezbollah Vows to Keep Weapons as Ceasefire Leaves Iran’s Proxy Intact

Despite a new 10-day ceasefire, the terror group confirms its allegiance to Tehran and refuses to disarm.

Foreign PolicyPublished April 17, 2026 at 2:31 PMProcessed April 17, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Two men on motorcycles ride among traffic, as people make victory signs and fly yellow Hezbollah flags, in Nabatieh, Lebanon (17/04/26)

The 10-day ceasefire announced by President Trump has brought a temporary halt to the intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, but the underlying reality remains unchanged: Lebanon is effectively held hostage by a terrorist organization that answers to Tehran.

While crowds in Beirut celebrated the pause in hostilities, Hezbollah’s leadership has made it clear that they have no intention of relinquishing their arsenal. In a rare interview, high-ranking Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa explicitly stated the group would 'never, ever' disarm, further cementing its role as a puppet for the Iranian regime.

Safa described the relationship between the two as 'two souls in one body,' confirming that the group’s primary loyalty lies with its foreign patrons rather than the sovereignty of the Lebanese state. The ceasefire leaves critical security questions unanswered, including the status of Israeli buffer zones designed to protect its citizens from future attacks.

With the Lebanese government admitting it lacks the influence or the stomach to force Hezbollah to disarm, the group continues to operate as a state-within-a-state. As long as Hezbollah remains armed and tethered to Iran’s regional agenda, the prospect of long-term peace remains a fantasy.

Israel retains the right to strike security threats, and until the fundamental issue of Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure is addressed, the cycle of conflict is destined to repeat.

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hezbollahisraeliranforeign-policymiddle-east

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