Hezbollah has strongly condemned the Lebanese government’s initiative to establish a state monopoly on arms, calling it a “grave sin” and dismissing the move as if it did not exist. The group rejected a decision made by the Lebanese cabinet on Tuesday, which authorized the army to develop a plan to restrict arms in the country to six official security forces by year’s end.
This government action followed increased pressure from the United States for Hezbollah to relinquish its arms, amid growing concerns that Israel might escalate its attacks on Lebanon. This comes even as Israel continues to violate the November truce with Hezbollah, which was meant to end hostilities.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed the decree after the cabinet meeting, stating that it is the state’s responsibility to control weapons. His declaration marked an official rejection of Hezbollah’s military presence in the country, a development that would have been unimaginable just two years ago when the group held significant power in the region.
In a written statement released on Wednesday, Hezbollah attributed the decision to U.S. pressure and declared it would treat the move as if it did not exist. The group accused the government of acting against Lebanon’s interests and claimed the decision served Israel’s goals. It also noted that Shia ministers left the cabinet session before the decision was finalized, expressing their opposition to the move.
Despite this, Hezbollah expressed openness to dialogue and urged its supporters to remain patient. The group emphasized its commitment to ending Israeli aggression, liberating occupied land, releasing prisoners, and rebuilding the nation. It called on Israel to first comply with the November ceasefire agreement, which it has repeatedly violated.
Recent violence continued in the region, with an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killing a child and injuring his father, according to Al-Akhbar. The National News Agency reported that Israeli jets dropped bombs near the Wazzani River. Later in the evening, Lebanese media outlets reported multiple Israeli air strikes targeting villages in southern Lebanon, including Eastern Zawtar and Deir Siriane. Al-Manar TV reported missile strikes in Deir Siriane, while Al Jadeed TV described ongoing efforts by ambulances to reach the affected areas.
The Lebanese cabinet is set to meet again on Thursday to further discuss U.S. proposals aimed at disarming Hezbollah within a specific timeframe. Some Lebanese politicians have not ruled out using force to achieve this goal, with the army potentially playing a role if such a decision is made.
However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned on Friday that disarmament could be a sensitive issue due to sectarian divisions and might threaten national stability. The cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday marked the first time it addressed the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons directly.
Hezbollah emerged significantly weakened from its recent conflict with Israel, during which many of its senior leaders, including long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, were killed. The war resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced tens of thousands of people from their homes.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reiterated the group’s stance during the cabinet meeting, stating that they would not lay down their arms under Israeli fire. He emphasized that resistance should not be tied to a timeline for disarmament and must be discussed through national consensus. In a televised speech, Qassem affirmed the group’s strength and readiness to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, highlighting the sacrifices made to protect the country from Israeli aggression.
English 
Arabic 