Lebanon to move on Hezbollah disarmament after testy cabinet meeting: What to know
The Lebanese government is under mounting pressure to disarm Hezbollah, but the group’s allies in the government are not on board.
Lebanon's cabinet voiced approval for a contested army plan to disarm Hezbollah during a session on Friday, after ministers aligned with the powerful Iran-backed group walked out of the meeting.
The highly anticipated session was chaired by President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his cabinet in attendance. The sit-down, which focused on the army's plan to assume control over all weapons in the country, lasted more than three hours, concluding at around 6:20 p.m. local time (11:20 a.m. ET).
Lebanon Information Minister Paul Morcos announced to reporters after the session that the government "welcomed" the army's plan, saying "there will be no investments unless the country meets the conditions for security and safety."
Morcos said the army would begin implementing the plan but stressed that it would be within “available means” and accused Israel of "hindering" the implementation with its strikes. He added that the government is committed to a “national security strategy” aimed at extending state control over all territory and restricting weapons outside of state control.
