Written question asked by Andrew Gwynne (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 March 2009. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Hezbollah

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the (a) size and (b) strength of Hezbollah's militia; and what reports he has received on progress towards its disarmament.

Answer: Hezbollah has not revealed its armed strength publicly, and estimates vary widely. These estimates suggest that Hezbollah's militia consists of a small core of experienced fighters supplemented with much larger numbers of volunteers/reservists.The latest Secretary General Report on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701 stated that Hezbollah continues to maintain a substantial military capacity distinct from that of the Lebanese State, in direct contravention of UNSCRs 1559 and 1701. The report welcomes the national dialogue as a means to take forward disarmament through a Lebanese-led political process.All these reports are available on the UN website at:"http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep09.htm."

Secondary information