Lebanon’s cabinet cautiously welcomed a classified military plan to disarm Hezbollah, sparking Shiite backlash and highlighting the fragile sectarian balance of power.
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday cautiously endorsed a military proposal to disarm Hezbollah, in what could mark the most serious attempt yet to curb the terror group’s dominance. But the move immediately triggered sectarian tensions, with Shiite ministers storming out in protest.
The plan was presented during a three-hour cabinet session by army commander Rodolphe Haykal, following instructions for the military to prepare a disarmament strategy by the end of 2025. While ministers welcomed the presentation, no formal vote was taken and no timeline set for its implementation.
Information Minister Paul Morcos clarified that the government had not formally adopted the proposal: “Implementation will depend on the army’s logistical, material, and personnel capabilities. This may require additional time and additional effort.” The plan’s details remain classified.
The initiative comes amid mounting international and domestic pressure after last year’s war with Israel, which shifted Lebanon’s fragile political balance. The United States and Saudi Arabia, alongside Lebanon’s Christian and Sunni factions, are pressing Hezbollah to surrender its weapons.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem slammed the government’s move, vowing the group would never disarm. Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, aligned with Hezbollah, warned that any decision taken without Shiite participation would be “null and void,” citing Lebanon’s delicate sectarian power-sharing system.
The walkout of all five Shiite ministers underscored how explosive the issue remains. For now, the disarmament plan sits in limbo—welcomed by many inside and outside Lebanon but fiercely rejected by Hezbollah and its allies.
