Lebanon cabinet backs army plan to disarm Hezbollah, Shi’ite ministers walk out

Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday endorsed an army plan to disarm Hezbollah as Shi’ite ministers stage walk out in protest.

The decision follows last year’s war with Israel, which unsettled Lebanon’s fragile political balance and renewed debate over the future of the Iran-backed Shi’ite group’s weapons.

Officials however warned that implementation would be slow given the military’s limited capabilities.

Calls for Hezbollah to disarm have grown louder from the United States, Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah’s mainly Christian and Sunni rivals in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has rejected the push, arguing that even discussing disarmament would be reckless while Israeli air strikes continue and southern territory remains under occupation.

Four people were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday.

Friday’s three-hour cabinet session included a presentation by army commander Rodolphe Haykal. All five Shi’ite ministers left the meeting in protest when he entered the room.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said afterwards that the government “welcomed” the plan but stopped short of calling it an official cabinet decision.

He added that the army would begin applying it in line with its “logistical, material and personnel capabilities,” which could require additional time and effort. He said details of the plan would remain secret.

Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar, who is aligned with Hezbollah, told local media that any decision taken without Shi’ite participation was invalid, citing Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system.

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