Strategic Assessment

UN Security Council resolution 1701 stipulates deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, disarming the region of any non-government-held weapons, and prevention of hostilities. It places the major burden of implementation on the shoulders of the Lebanese army, as the principal executive arm of the Lebanese government, a situation that implies potential friction with Hizbollah. However, in terms of actual steps to disarm Hizbollah, there is a long way from theory to practice. TheLebanese government, led by Fouad Siniora, has no intention of acting against Hizbollah, since it is well aware that this will jeopardize the fragile domestic stability in the country.