Earlier this month, the Lebanese government endorsed the army’s U.S.-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah, the Shia militia-cum-party. The Lebanese army is now due to begin implementing the plan this year in what officials are calling a “ pivotal moment .”

The decision is indeed nothing short of historic. It would have been impossible, though, had Israel not decapitated Hezbollah in their latest war, and had the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad—a longstanding sponsor of Hezbollah and ally of Iran—not collapsed in December . But here we are, with Lebanon contemplating a monumental opportunity to regain its independence over matters of war and peace and rebuild its state institutions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have said there is no turning back on this

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