In his most forceful message yet, President Joseph Aoun made it clear on Monday that Hezbollah has no alternative but to fall in line with the state, thus delivering a pointed signal that his term will not tolerate any partnership that exists outside official institutions, nor will it recognize parallel sources of authority. The message is unambiguous: the hand is extended, but only under a single roof. There will be no compromise on national sovereignty.

Lebanon’s next chapter will be defined by a clear set of priorities: border demarcation, strengthening the military, centralizing military decision-making, and regaining control over Palestinian arms. These aren’t details to be negotiated, they’re foundational principles. According to information obtained by kataeb.org, the presidency and Army Command are already coordinating to implement these measures in a way that avoids confrontation with armed groups, while remaining firmly committed to core national values.

Palestinian factions, meanwhile, are scrambling to respond. The Lebanese state has drawn a red line: all weapons outside its authority must ultimately be brought under state control. A decision to collect Palestinian arms has already been made, this time, with the full backing of the Palestinian Authority. President Mahmoud Abbas is set to visit Lebanon on Wednesday, and discussions with President Aoun are expected to center on crafting a roadmap for dismantling Palestinian weapons inside the refugee camps within a six-month timeframe. According to sources familiar with the talks, this is a priority for Aoun, who sees no path forward that includes non-Lebanese weapons operating independently on Lebanese soil.

The move is intended to show the international community that Lebanon is serious about restoring sovereignty. It also signals a new phase in Aoun’s presidency: the implementation of the pledges he made in his inaugural speech, including dialogue with Hezbollah, but on state terms.

That said, the elephant in the room remains Hezbollah’s arsenal. While the group continues to project unity, internal fractures are becoming more evident. Its leadership appears torn between hardliners clinging to defiance and others quietly seeking a temporary truce in hopes of a more favorable political horizon. Sheikh Naim Qassem, believed to be operating from Tehran, remains a staunch loyalist to Iran’s playbook. But not all within the party share the same appetite for endless confrontation.

This is the English adaptation of an article by Chady Hilani.