The Lebanese government has accepted a resolution, in line with a US proposal for disarmament, that mandates the termination of all armed groups’ activities in the country and brings all weapons under state control. The decision, which aims to disarm all organizations, including Hezbollah, by the end of the year, has sparked widespread political and social repercussions. While the resolution has faced harsh criticism from within the government and the public, experts state that its implementation on the ground is nearly impossible.<\/p>\n
Under pressure from the US, the Lebanese government approved the resolution stipulating that all weapons in the country, including those held by Hezbollah, be brought under state monopoly and collected by the end of the year. While the decision caused political and social shockwaves in the country, it was described by the US as a “courageous” and “historic” step.<\/p>\n
The disarmament decision was made during a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace. In a statement following the meeting, Information Minister Paul Markus emphasized that the government aims to re-establish state authority, ensure stability throughout the country, and pursue reconstruction.<\/p>\n
Markus stated, “We have agreed on the termination of armed presence throughout all territories, including Hezbollah, and the deployment of the army on the border.” He also announced that the government has adopted the objectives of the US proposal and that the Lebanese army will prepare a detailed plan for the collection of weapons.<\/p>\n
Some ministers left the meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n Minister Markus noted that despite all efforts to persuade them, some ministers left the meeting but did not withdraw from the government. Minister of Labor Muhammad Haidar told Al-Jadeed television that they left the meeting because they did not approve of the US proposal but requested that the issue be reconsidered later.<\/p>\n Minister of Justice Adnan Nassar conveyed that the ministers in question support the role of the Lebanese army and are not opposed to the principle of consolidating weapons under a single authority.<\/p>\n Full US support: \u201cHistoric and courageous\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria, supported the Lebanese government’s decision in statements on his X account. Describing the decision as a “historic and courageous” step towards implementing the Ceasefire Agreement with Israel of November 2024, UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and the Taif Agreement, Barrack congratulated President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.<\/p>\n “This week’s Council of Ministers decisions have finally brought the ‘One Nation, One Army’ solution to life for Lebanon. We stand with the Lebanese people,” said Barrack, emphasizing that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mark Rubio also support the goal of a strong Lebanese state against Hezbollah.<\/p>\n Hezbollah’s reaction: \u201cA grave mistake\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The strongest reaction to the decision came from Hezbollah. Hezbollah argued that the government’s decision would “deprive Lebanon of its resistance weapon against Israel” and that this was a “grave mistake.” In a statement on July 30, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated that disarmament is an internal Lebanese matter, saying, “We will not lay down our arms for Israel.”<\/p>\n