The Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a tweet on his official ‘X’ account that ‘the government’s historic decision to restrict weaponry exclusively to the state by the end of the year was first to meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people.’ The Lebanese ‘Hezbollah’ party stated today, Wednesday, that ‘the party will treat the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the party as if it does not exist.’ The party described the government’s decision as a ‘major sin,’ asserting that the decision represents a clear violation of the government’s ministerial statement and gives Israel free rein to undermine its security, policy, and future existence. ‘Hezbollah’ affirmed its openness to dialogue, ending Israeli aggression against Lebanon, liberating its land, releasing prisoners, and working to build the state. It emphasized the necessity for the government to prioritize taking necessary actions to free all Lebanese territories from occupation.
The Lebanese government, on Tuesday, tasked the country’s army with developing an operational plan to restrict weapons to legitimate forces by the end of the current year. The National News Agency reported on Tuesday evening that a ministerial session, lasting six full hours, was held during which the army was assigned to draft a plan to restrict weapons to legitimate forces by 2025. The agency noted the condition that the plan should be presented to the Council of Ministers before the end of the current month, as announced by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Salam stated, ‘The council decided to continue the discussion in a government session on August 7th, tasking the army to draft a plan to restrict weaponry by the end of the current year and present it to the Council of Ministers before the 31st of this month.’
