Hezbollah has strongly criticised the Lebanese government’s decision to instruct the army to prepare a plan to disarm the Iran-backed movement, calling it a “grave mistake” that undermines Lebanon’s sovereignty and benefits Israel.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group said it would treat the decision as “non-existent,” warning that it weakens Lebanon and grants Israel a political victory it could not achieve through military means.
The Lebanese Cabinet, following a nearly six-hour meeting on Tuesday, directed the army to develop an implementation plan to restrict weapons exclusively to state forces, preventing their possession by non-state actors.
Information Minister Ziad Makary told reporters after the session that the government would reconvene on Thursday to discuss further details.
Hezbollah condemned the move as serving “Israeli interests fully”, claiming it would leave the country exposed to external aggression and erode national sovereignty.
However, the group expressed willingness to engage in dialogue toward ending Israeli aggression and building a national defence strategy, provided such efforts were not driven by external pressure.
The decision marks the first significant government step toward confronting Hezbollah’s military capabilities — an issue that has long divided Lebanon’s political landscape and drawn international concern.
