BEIRUT – Lebanon’s cabinet is set to reconvene on Thursday to address the divisive issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, just a day after the Iran-backed militia group rejected the government’s decision to revoke its weapons.
The unprecedented move comes under mounting US pressure, with American envoy Tom Barrack having visited Beirut multiple times in recent weeks. According to officials, the US proposal includes a timetable for the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025.
Government Moves Toward Exclusive State Arms Control
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that the army had been tasked with drafting a disarmament strategy to ensure that only official state forces possess weapons. The announcement marks the first formal attempt since the end of the country’s civil war over 30 years ago to disarm Hezbollah, the only faction to retain its arsenal after the 1989 Taif Agreement.
The move is being framed as part of Lebanon’s efforts to implement a November ceasefire agreement that aimed to end a year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into a two-month war last year. That conflict, according to analysts, left Hezbollah militarily and politically weakened.
Hezbollah Rejects Disarmament Plan
In a statement Wednesday, Hezbollah denounced the government’s decision, saying it would treat the disarmament push "as if it did not exist." The group accused the Lebanese cabinet of committing a “grave sin” and undermining national sovereignty.
“This decision paves the way for Israel to tamper with Lebanon’s security, geography, politics, and future,” the group said.
Hezbollah’s key political ally, the Amal Movement, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also criticized the move and called Thursday’s cabinet session an “opportunity for correction.”
Iran Responds Cautiously
Iran, Hezbollah’s chief military and financial backer, responded cautiously. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that while Tehran supports Hezbollah, “the decision to disarm ultimately rests with the group itself.”
“We do not intervene in its internal decisions,” Araghchi added, claiming that Hezbollah had “rebuilt itself” following last year’s conflict with Israel.
Political Fallout and Regional Tensions
Tensions within the Lebanese government escalated on Tuesday when two ministers affiliated with Hezbollah and Amal walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest. Hezbollah later characterized the walkout as a rejection of U.S. tutelage and Israeli influence over Lebanon’s affairs.
According to Al Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah outlet, the Shiite bloc — which controls 27 out of Lebanon’s 128 parliamentary seats — may consider withdrawing all four affiliated ministers or even triggering a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Meanwhile, Israel has warned of military escalation if Beirut fails to rein in Hezbollah. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continue in southern Lebanon, with two people killed in strikes on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
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