Lebanon Orders Army to Plan Hezbollah Disarmament

Lebanon's government has ordered the army to devise a plan to bring all weapons under state control by the end of the year, specifically targeting Hezbollah's arsenal. The move, made under substantial U.S. pressure after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel, represents a significant policy shift and has garnered praise from anti-Hezbollah groups. Hezbollah has forcefully rejected the plan, calling it a 'grave sin' and promising to ignore it, arguing that disarmament would expose Lebanon to Israeli attacks and benefit Israel. The group maintains it will keep its weapons until Israeli strikes stop and Israeli forces withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory. The decision has exacerbated internal tensions, with Hezbollah-linked ministers walking out of the cabinet session and fears rising over further political instability. Ongoing Israeli attacks and continued U.S. demands for a firm disarmament timetable complicate the government's efforts and deepen national divisions.