Turkey Proposes Coordinated Plan with Iran to Relocate Hezbollah’s Heavy Weapons in Lebanon

According to Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have discussed a dramatic plan involving Hezbollah’s transfer of its heavy weapons and drones to Iran. This proposal is linked to a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the offer.

President Aoun has been engaging Hezbollah leadership since early in his term about the possibility of the group relinquishing its heavy arms to the Lebanese army or another agreed-upon framework. Light and medium weapons may remain with Hezbollah initially, with their future to be determined in a separate arrangement between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is reportedly awaiting developments in US-Iran negotiations, hoping that broader agreements, including on the Strait of Hormuz, will create favorable conditions for progress in Lebanon. A key unresolved issue is which international force would monitor the Lebanon-Israel border after any agreement. Discussions are ongoing in Rome and other capitals, but Israel has not yet agreed to the deployment of such a force.

Turkey is willing to participate in the arrangement but only in coordination with Iran and after clarity emerges on the US-Iran talks under the Trump administration. Despite ongoing security contacts, Turkey remains wary of Hezbollah due to its involvement in the Syrian civil war and support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Currently, two main obstacles remain: Israel has not fully withdrawn from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has not accepted the plan to hand over its heavy weapons. The situation continues to evolve amid regional diplomatic efforts.