BEIRUT, Aug 5 — Lebanon’s cabinet is set to meet Tuesday in a landmark session to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, marking the first official debate on the group's weapons amid rising US pressure and fears of an Israeli military escalation.
The meeting, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) at the Presidential Palace, signals a dramatic shift in Lebanese politics, as Hezbollah’s military arsenal — once a taboo subject — is now at the center of national and international discourse.
🇺🇸 US Push for Disarmament Intensifies
Tensions have heightened after a deadly war between Hezbollah and Israel last year, which claimed the lives of thousands of Hezbollah fighters and led to the destruction of a significant portion of the group’s rocket stockpile.
In June, US envoy Thomas Barrack proposed a disarmament roadmap, offering Lebanon incentives such as:
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Israeli withdrawal from five contested points in southern Lebanon
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A complete halt to Israeli strikes
In exchange, Lebanon would need to formally pledge to disarm Hezbollah, a condition Washington insists is necessary to move talks forward.
🗣️ Cabinet Divided Over Wording
Lebanese officials say finding consensus is proving difficult. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Hezbollah’s key ally, has been negotiating with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to find generalized language that avoids directly mentioning disarmament — instead suggesting:
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A national defense strategy
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A commitment to ceasefire with Israel
However, anti-Hezbollah figures in the cabinet, such as Minister Kamal Shehadi from the Lebanese Forces party, are pushing for clear timelines and disarmament pledges.
“We have to put Lebanon’s interest first and take a decision today,” Shehadi told Reuters, rejecting the idea of further delays.
🇱🇧 Hezbollah's Base Mobilizes
On Monday evening, Hezbollah supporters staged a show of force, riding in motorcycle convoys through stronghold neighborhoods in Beirut, waving party flags — a stark reminder of the group’s entrenched support in Lebanon’s Shiite community.
Analysts warn that any explicit pledge to disarm Hezbollah could ignite sectarian tensions, potentially destabilizing the already fragile political environment.
⚠️ Risk of Israeli Escalation
Diplomatic sources suggest that failure to reach a firm decision could trigger intensified Israeli strikes, potentially even targeting Beirut. While a US-brokered ceasefire ended the war last November, Israeli operations continue against alleged Hezbollah arms depots, mostly in southern Lebanon.
The outcome of Tuesday’s cabinet meeting could determine whether Lebanon maintains fragile peace — or faces the threat of renewed war.
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