A new proposal to gradually disarm Hezbollah is emerging from the presidential palace in Baabda, with plans to implement a geographically phased approach that would begin in southern Lebanon and eventually extend across the country, Nidaa Al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday.

At the heart of the proposal is the idea of prioritizing disarmament by region, starting with the area south of the Litani River. This zone, once a Hezbollah stronghold, is now largely seen as neutral ground following months of Israeli airstrikes that dismantled most of the group's military infrastructure there. Lebanese army operations have reportedly cleared roughly 80 percent of the territory, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

With the south now mostly pacified, attention turns to areas north of the Litani, where Hezbollah continues to maintain a network of military sites and weapons caches. According to security sources cited by the newspaper, the Lebanese army has already seized seven medium-range weapons depots in these territories. However, the move is viewed as insufficient unless Hezbollah agrees to a broader surrender of its heavy and medium arms. 

The third and most sensitive phase of the proposed plan involves the southern suburbs of Beirut and surrounding districts, being Hezbollah’s nerve center for both political leadership and military command. Here, officials are exploring the feasibility of removing all illegal arms from the capital and its outskirts. The goal is twofold: to reassert state authority and to reduce the risk of Israeli strikes that could devastate densely populated urban zones.

If implemented successfully, the phased plan would culminate in the disarmament of Hezbollah’s strongholds in the Bekaa Valley, a region traditionally viewed as a strategic fallback for the group. Such a step would represent a turning point, signaling that Hezbollah has come to terms with the diminishing utility of its military capabilities and is prepared to shift toward a political resolution of its role within the Lebanese state.

Sources close to the presidency say the geographically sequenced approach is being prioritized over alternative proposals that suggest disarmament by weapon class, beginning with heavy arms, then moving to medium and light weapons. The reasoning, they argue, is practical: a regional framework is easier to implement on the ground and may offer Hezbollah a more face-saving way to comply without appearing to capitulate under external pressure.

Still, the success of the plan hinges on several key variables. Progress in the Baabda-Hezbollah dialogue is critical, as is the broader geopolitical backdrop, including the trajectory of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. Another pivotal moment will come with the expected visit of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to Lebanon, which could provide insight into Tehran’s stance on the initiative and whether Iran is willing to nudge its Lebanese ally toward compromise.