By Naim Berjawi and Mohammad Sio
BEIRUT / ISTANBUL (AA) - Hezbollah warned Wednesday that the US is laying “deadly traps” aimed at pitting the Lebanese army against the group.
In comments, Hezbollah political adviser Hussein al-Khalil accused Washington of seeking to dismantle Lebanon’s defense capabilities and reduce the country to “an American-Israeli colony.”
Khalil criticized US pressure tactics that he said aim “to absolve Washington of its commitments, including pressure on Israel to halt daily violations and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.”
He argued that pushing Lebanon’s army to confront its own people and “resistance represents a vile plot to destroy two foundational pillars of the nation: the army and the resistance.”
He urged Lebanese officials to remain vigilant against falling into these “deadly traps.”
Khalil’s warning comes after a US roadmap presented to the Lebanese government for disarming Hezbollah in return for Israeli withdrawal from five occupied outposts in southern Lebanon and reconstruction aid.
On Aug. 5, Lebanon’s cabinet approved a plan to place all weapons – including Hezbollah’s – under state control, tasking the army with drafting an implementation strategy by the end of this month and executing it by the end of 2025. Hezbollah denounced the government's move as a “grave sin.”
Israel launched a military offensive in Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring around 17,000.
A ceasefire was reached in November, but Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities.
Under the truce, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.