The Day of the Israeli Disarmament Ultimatum

On December 31, Lebanese editorial priorities were dominated by a looming Israeli ultimatum regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament. Morning reports focused on the aftermath of the Mar-a-Lago summit, with editors highlighting a US-Israeli consensus that the group must disarm by year-end. This external pressure was contrasted by pro-Hezbollah media’s emphasis on ideological steadfastness and the Lebanese Army’s continued seizure of heavy weapons in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, framed as an assertion of state sovereignty. By early afternoon, the narrative shifted toward domestic stability. Media outlets prioritized President Michel Aoun’s reassuring statements that the "specter of war" had receded, even as security agencies entered high alert for New Year’s Eve. Simultaneously, a legal-sectarian story emerged concerning the arrest of Sheikh Khaldun Araymat in the "Prince Abu Omar" fraud case. In the evening, the tone darkened as editors across the spectrum reported an Israeli warning that the deadline for Hezbollah’s disarmament expires at midnight, fueling speculation about a potential military escalation at the start of 2026.