Naim Qassem stated in his speech that “the Lebanese government is responsible for developing a plan to restore sovereignty”, calling on parties and elites in Lebanon to assist the government in completing plans to restore sovereignty. He also urged the government to hold discussion sessions aimed at restoring sovereignty, arming the army, and establishing a defense strategy, emphasizing that “Lebanon needs to regain its sovereignty”.
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah described the government’s decision to disarm Hezbollah as a mistake. Naim Qassem added, “Our problems stem from the Israeli enemy and their American supporter,” continuing, “Resistance is not the army of a state but the destiny of the national army, and there is no alternative but to support and assist it.”
Earlier today, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan led by Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to move towards disarming Lebanon’s Hezbollah by the end of 2025, describing it as a significant and essential step. The statement considered that “the decision grants Lebanon the opportunity to restore its sovereignty and strengthen the state’s institutions, the army, and the Lebanese government, away from non-governmental influences.”
Netanyahu’s office confirmed “Israel’s readiness to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and work together for a safer and more stable future for Lebanon and Israel.” It noted that “if the Lebanese authorities take practical steps to dismantle Hezbollah’s arms, Israel will take reciprocal measures, including gradually reducing its military presence in coordination with America.”
The Lebanese government tasked the country’s army with developing an implementation plan to confine weapons to legitimate forces by the end of this year. According to the National News Agency, the Lebanese government held a six-hour ministerial session during which it decided to assign the army to develop a plan to confine weapons to legitimate forces by 2025.
The agency noted the condition that the plan be presented by the end of the current month, as announced by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. After the cabinet session, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed that “the government’s ministerial statement and the president’s inauguration speech affirmed the state’s duty to monopolize bearing arms.” Salam said, “The council decided to continue discussions on the American paper in a government session on August 7, tasking the army with developing a plan to confine weapons by the end of this year and presenting it to the cabinet by the end of the month.”
Hezbollah asserted that “the party will treat the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the party as if it does not exist.” Hezbollah stated in a statement that “the government’s decision to confine weapons to the state weakens Lebanon’s ability against Israeli-American aggression,” adding that “the government’s decision achieves for Israel what it could not achieve in its aggression against Lebanon.”
The party described the government’s decision as “a major sin,” affirming that the decision represents a clear violation of the government’s ministerial statement and gives Israel free rein to meddle with its security, politics, and future existence. Hezbollah confirmed its openness to dialogue, ending Israeli aggression on Lebanon, liberating its land, releasing prisoners, and working to build the state, stressing the need for the government to prioritize taking the necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from occupation.
