Lebanon's Government Tasks Army with Disarming Hezbollah by Year-End

US Welcomes Lebanese Government's Decision

• 🇺🇸 The United States welcomes the Lebanese government's decision to task the armed forces with a plan to bring all weapons under state control by the end of the year.
• 🎯 This move is seen as an important step towards Lebanese sovereignty.

Hezbollah's Arms and US Pressure

• ⚠️ The US Special Envoy emphasized that Hezbollah retaining arms means words will not suffice.
• ⚡ The Lebanese armed forces must fully commit and act to implement the government's decision.
• ⚖️ The credibility of Lebanon's government depends on its ability to match principle with practice.

Cabinet Meeting Protest

• 🚶 Hezbollah ministers and their Shi'ite allies withdrew from a cabinet meeting in protest against discussions on disarming Hezbollah.
• 🗓️ The meeting considered a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action.
• 🗣️ Information Minister Paul Morcos stated the cabinet endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines, but the government said disarmament should happen by the end of this year.