EU pledges €100M to Lebanese army to reinforce state against Hezbollah threat

The European Union has agreed to provide an additional €100 million to the Lebanese military, a move aimed at reinforcing state institutions and diminishing Hezbollah's influence. The funding, announced by Kaja Kallas, is intended to help the Lebanese state assert its monopoly on arms and disarm non-state actors.

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It will help the Lebanese state assert its monopoly over arms and disarm non-state actors such as Hezbollah. The best way to remove Hezbollah’s threat is to strengthen Lebanon’s state, institutions, and sovereignty. Today’s funding helps to do that.

"The best way to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah is to strengthen the Lebanese state, empower its institutions, and restore its monopoly on the use of force," Kallas stated on X/Twitter. This latest assistance brings the total EU support to Lebanon to €182 million. The initiative seeks to bolster the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and destabilize Hezbollah's regional grip.

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The best way to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah is to strengthen the Lebanese state, empower its institutions, and restore its monopoly on the use of force.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has rejected a proposed ceasefire plan that was contingent on the group ceasing fire and withdrawing its fighters from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized the negotiations, calling them "shameless" and a "roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest." He asserted that "as long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue."

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The negotiations were shameless, rejecting the Washington declaration as 'a roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest.' As long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue.

An Israeli official clarified that Hezbollah is not a party to the negotiations, stating, "We are not negotiating with Hezbollah." The official added that Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are working towards a ceasefire based on the understanding that Hezbollah will be disarmed and southern Lebanon demilitarized.

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We are not negotiating with Hezbollah. Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are working to implement a ceasefire based on the understanding that Hezbollah will be disarmed and southern Lebanon will be demilitarized.