Walid Jumblatt, a Druze leader in Lebanon who has been a key political player in the country for forty years, has called on Hezbollah to turn over its weapons to the state.
This is a potential major turning point in Lebanon and comes in the wake of the defeat of Iran by Israel.
When Hezbollah was defeated by the Jewish state in November 2024, it led to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Now, the weakening of Iran may also lead to changes in Lebanon.
Asharq al-Awsat, an Arabic newspaper, noted on June 27 that “Lebanon’s veteran Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Thursday called on the Iran-backed Hezbollah group to hand its weapons over to the state, saying arms must be exclusively under government control.”
Jumblatt is a Druze leader, but he is also the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, which is his political vehicle for Druze representation in parliament.
He has influence beyond the Druze minority; his voice is important in Lebanon and Syria. “Weapons should only be in the hands of the Lebanese state,” he said, adding that Sheba’a Farms, an area that Israel calls Mount Dov, is part of Syria. The area is controlled by Israel and has long been claimed by Hezbollah.
“Jumblatt’s appeal comes amid growing international calls for Hezbollah to disarm and for the Lebanese government to implement its longstanding pledge – reiterated in its ministerial statement and by President Joseph Aoun during his swearing-in – to ensure that only state institutions bear arms,” the report noted. “His remarks also come as Washington renews its push to resolve files with Syria, including border demarcation, as part of wider regional realignments.”
“There’s a new chapter unfolding in the Middle East,” Jumblatt said. “If any Lebanese or non-Lebanese party possesses weapons, I hope they will hand them over to the state in a proper manner.”
How did Jumblatt come to this decision?
The pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar media outlet in Lebanon described how Jumblatt came to this decision.
The report notes that US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack had met with him ten days ago. The report claimed that so far, he is the only Lebanese politician that the US envoy has met.
Barrack is a key player in US-Syria ties. He was recently in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“According to informed sources, the meeting, attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and [Walid’s son] MP Taymour Jumblatt, was described as “Walid Jumblatt’s last lifeline,” amid growing anxiety of the Druze leader over the profound transformations taking place in Syria, particularly in the south, following the fall of the former regime.
“The growing challenges facing Syria’s Druze community are also having a profound impact on the Druze situation in Lebanon,” Al-Akhbar noted. This media report should be seen in light of the fact that it may be pro-Hezbollah and have an agenda.
Pushing to 'surrender' weapons
THE REPORT claims that the elder Jumblatt is pushing to “surrender” weapons. This is the phrasing that indicates the backing for Hezbollah. The reality is that he is making a pragmatic decision.
“Jumblatt has been openly expressing his concern about the evolving situation within Druze circles,” the report claims. “He had not expected that his surprise visit to Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa would be met with such a negative reaction. He was surprised by the rejection of the visit by the majority of Syria’s Druze.
“Some even went so far as to inform al-Sharaa’s team, which had met with them several times, that Jumblatt did not represent them or speak on their behalf, and that the historical ties between the Druze of the region did not entitle any single authority to make decisions on behalf of all.”
The report claims that Jumblatt was focusing on Syria’s Druze and a rising leader there named Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.
Druze in Syria have clashed with the new government in Damascus. Israel has also vowed to protect them.
Recent reports indicate that Syria and Israel have increasingly warm ties behind the scenes. Jumblatt was apparently worried that he was being sidelined.
The report notes that Jumblatt has been on the fence about Hezbollah before. In 2008, he considered confronting the terrorist group when it muscled its way into Beirut. Today, he is apparently concerned about losing influence and about internal struggles within his own party.
“In this context, he decided to take preemptive steps, most notably the decision to hand over the Progressive Socialist Party’s weapons to the Lebanese Army,” the report said. “When his aides asked him about the timing, he said frankly, ‘I have no guarantees that no one within the party or from our circle will resort to taking up arms against others.’”
The report now claims that the Druze leader is joining the “battle” to encircle Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“While Jumblatt believes that what is happening is a prelude to his political liquidation and the end of his leadership, he has found that one way to escape this danger is to offer concessions and take political positions that support the American approach in Lebanon and Syria,” the report said, adding that “This may push the current US administration to adjust its position, a matter discussed with Barrack during their meeting.”