Hezbollah said Lebanon’s recent cabinet session on a plan to establish a state monopoly on arms is an “opportunity” to prevent the country from slipping into crisis. The group emphasized that the government should proceed with caution while Israel continues military operations in the south.
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the army to disarm Hezbollah, noting that the military would begin implementing it. Officials did not provide a timeframe and stressed the army’s limited capabilities. Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos clarified that formal approval of the plan had not been completed.
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati said the group expects Lebanon to suspend implementation until Israel halts airstrikes and withdraws troops from southern Lebanon. The cabinet had linked the plan to a U.S. roadmap, conditioning progress on Israeli compliance.
The U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Hezbollah’s domestic rivals have pressured Lebanon to disarm the group. Hezbollah, however, rejected these measures and warned that action without Israeli withdrawal could spark unrest. Secretary-General Naim Qassem previously suggested that street protests and even civil war could follow a forced disarmament.
Israel has indicated it may scale back its presence in southern Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms. Meanwhile, strikes continue, killing civilians, deepening Lebanon’s internal divisions, and complicating efforts for a national defense strategy.