Hezbollah Disarmament: Domestic and Regional Implications for Lebanon, Iran, and U.S. Foreign Policy

Research Title:
Hezbollah Disarmament: Domestic and Regional Implications for Lebanon, Iran, and U.S. Foreign Policy

1. Introduction

• Opening with a thematic or moral quote (e.g., a religious text or well-known political statement) to reflect the value-based or ethical dimension of the issue.
• Briefly present the concept of peace in international relations and the challenges that arise when security issues intersect with political identities and regional alliances.
• Identify the core issue: Hezbollah’s disarmament as a focal point linking Lebanese domestic politics, sectarian balances, U.S. policy positions, and the broader regional conflict between Israel and Iran.
• Formulate a guiding research question or set of questions that will frame the analysis.

2. Historical and Political Background of Hezbollah’s Armament

• The emergence of Hezbollah in the early 1980s in the context of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
• Its evolution from a resistance movement into a major political and military actor within the Lebanese state.
• Provisions of the Taif Agreement and the reasons for exempting Hezbollah from disarmament.
• The shift in justifications for retaining arms after Israel’s 2000 withdrawal—from direct resistance to a continuing deterrence role.

3. The U.S. Position and Objectives

• Washington’s view of Hezbollah’s weapons as a threat to Lebanese state sovereignty.
• Linking the disarmament issue to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions after the 2006 war.
• Considering disarmament as a means to weaken Iranian influence and ensure Israel’s security.
• Connecting the issue to the broader U.S. strategy toward Iran, including the nuclear program.

4. The Lebanese Government’s Position and Internal Challenges

• Announcement of a governmental plan to place all weapons under state control.
• Hezbollah and Amal’s rejection of the plan and framing it as an external dictate.
• Realistic challenges: Hezbollah’s military superiority over the Lebanese Armed Forces and its strong grassroots base within the Shi’a community.
• Risks of domestic escalation and the potential return to civil war conditions.

5. Regional Dimensions and Implications for Iran

• Hezbollah as Iran’s most strategic arm in confronting Israel.
• The impact of disarmament on Iran’s deterrence strategy.
• Hezbollah’s role within the Axis of Resistance alongside Iran, Syria, and Palestinian factions.
• How disarmament might be interpreted regionally as a U.S.–Israeli strategic success.

6. Hezbollah’s Position and Evasion Strategies

• Political discourse justifying the arms as “resistance weapons.”
• Integration of fighters into the southern Lebanese civilian and social fabric to complicate disarmament efforts.
• Use of regional and international mediators to buy time and wait for favorable regional shifts.

7. Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy

• If successful: Strengthening the Lebanese state, weakening Iran, and enhancing Israel’s security.
• If unsuccessful: Boosting Hezbollah’s image as a movement capable of withstanding U.S. pressure, potentially inspiring other armed groups.

8. Conclusion

• Reaffirm that the disarmament issue tests Lebanon’s ability to assert internal sovereignty without triggering civil war.
• For Iran: A battle to preserve a key strategic asset against Israel.
• For the U.S.: Part of a broader regional strategy to contain Iran and safeguard allies.
• Open question: Will disarmament bring lasting peace or trigger another cycle of conflict?

📌 Implementation Notes to Meet Academic Requirements:

1. Length: 5–7 pages (excluding title and reference pages).
2. Format: APA style – including title page, page numbering, margins, and references.
3. Sources: Minimum of 7 (books, scholarly articles, religious texts, credible reports).
4. Analytical Approach: Move beyond description to analyze the implications for U.S. foreign policy.
5. Key Players to Identify: Hezbollah, the Lebanese government, the U.S., Iran, Israel, members of the Axis of Resistance, and the United Nations.
6. Timeframe: Focus on the current situation while using historical background to explain the roots of the problem.