Egypt and Saudi Arabia are promoting a new plan for Lebanon that would end the fighting without disarming Hezbollah, according to the Hezbollah-linked Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. The proposal calls instead for Hezbollah to pledge not to use its weapons, alongside a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and expanded Lebanese Army authority in the south.
The report says Cairo and Riyadh are discussing an immediate ceasefire, stronger monitoring of any local arrangements, and a rapid timetable for the IDF to leave southern Lebanon. After the withdrawal, the Lebanese Army would take full responsibility for the evacuated areas, while Saudi Arabia would help fund reconstruction efforts in Lebanon.
The Egyptian approach, as described in the article, does not focus on collecting Hezbollah’s weapons or dismantling its military infrastructure. Rather, it aims to freeze their use through a commitment from the group to avoid military activity, without demanding actual disarmament.
The report also says Egypt is working to strengthen the Lebanese Army so it can play a bigger role in the country’s south. However, the plan has not yet received U.S. backing, prompting Cairo to seek broader Arab and Islamic support in order to pressure the American administration. Egyptian officials reportedly believe a political settlement is possible with Hezbollah’s participation and without an internal clash over the weapons issue, and they see little chance of progress in U.S.-backed talks as long as disarmament remains the central demand.
