• Lebanon starts disarming Palestinian factions in refugee camps under a government plan.
• The initiative follows a May agreement between Lebanese and Palestinian leaders.
• Only certain categories of weapons are being collected, labeled as "illegitimate."
• The disarmament process is seen as a precursor to potential actions against Hezbollah.
• US officials have praised Lebanon for initiating the handover of arms.

Lebanon has officially begun disarming Palestinian factions in refugee camps, with the first handovers occurring at the Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut. The weapons transfer is part of a larger government effort to establish a state monopoly on arms, which has garnered backing from the United States. The program commenced on Thursday following an agreement made during a May meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which affirmed that only the Lebanese state should hold arms, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and Dawn.

The disarmament initiative is expected to extend beyond the Burj al-Barajneh camp, with ongoing handovers planned in other camps across Lebanon. Authorities have stated that only "illegitimate weapons" will be surrendered, with a focus on those that entered the camp shortly before the handover. As confirmed by Fatah official Sobhi Abu Arab, the current phase does not include arms associated with organized factions, according to Los Angeles Times and Middle East Eye.

This disarmament process follows Lebanon's commitment under a November ceasefire agreement with Israel, alongside ongoing pressure from the US to consolidate all arms under the control of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The Lebanese cabinet has tasked the army to devise a comprehensive plan by year's end for a total disarmament, including Hezbollah, which has repeatedly resisted such moves, as noted by TRT Global and Reuters.

While this is viewed as a critical step towards gaining control of armed factions in refugee camps, significant challenges remain. For decades, various Palestinian groups have held autonomy within Lebanon's camps, complicating any disarmament efforts. Officials confirm that factions such as Hamas and others have not fully acquiesced to the agreement, adding further uncertainty to the process, according to Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and Middle East Eye.