Lebanon is entering a critical phase in its long-running debate over Hezbollah’s weapons, following Israel’s rejection of recent Lebanese proposals aimed at halting cross-border hostilities and withdrawing from occupied positions in South Lebanon. In exchange, Lebanon had suggested initiating internal discussions to address Hezbollah’s armed presence north of the Litani River.
The focus is now on the upcoming cabinet session, called by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, where the issue of exclusive state control over arms will be formally discussed. This move could mark the beginning of renewed engagement with the United States, whose envoy, Thomas Barrack, recently delivered a document containing three key demands, one of which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Parliament is expected to address the reform-related items in that proposal during a legislative session on Thursday, which includes voting on bills concerning judicial reform and banking sector restructuring.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Salam described the inclusion of arms exclusivity on the cabinet agenda as a “natural step,” reiterating that he had previously announced his intention to raise the matter once domestic and international consultations had matured. He emphasized that he was the first to propose the issue back in April.
Salam denied reports of internal discord among Lebanese leaders on the matter, stressing that he remains in “constant coordination” with both President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
He clarified that the agenda item was framed based on the rhetoric of the Taif Agreement, which calls for the state to assert its sovereignty over all Lebanese territory using only its national forces, and to fully implement the 2006 ceasefire agreement following the war with Israel. He noted that the American envoy’s proposal included practical steps for achieving these goals.
The prime minister also dismissed suggestions of Shiite opposition to the initiative, stressing that the exclusivity of arms is not meant to provoke any party. He pointed out that the principle is firmly embedded in both the presidential oath and the government’s ministerial statement, both of which received unanimous support from Shiite MPs as part of the broader parliamentary majority that elected the president and gave confidence to the cabinet twice.
Salam further affirmed that there would be no retreat on the issue of arms control, nor on the broader reform agenda, which is expected to advance in Thursday’s parliamentary session and future cabinet meetings.
Tuesday’s cabinet meeting will revisit previously discussed provisions of the government’s statement that focus on asserting national sovereignty over all Lebanese land using only state security forces. It will also cover arrangements for implementing the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, and aspects of which were outlined in the US envoy’s proposal.
MP Camille Chamoun, speaking after meeting with Salam, said the prime minister hopes the session will be productive and that the issue will be taken seriously both within Lebanon and in the international community.
Parliament, for its part, will deliberate on two key bills: one on restructuring Lebanon’s judiciary, and the other on reforming the banking sector. These reforms are central to international demands for Lebanon to demonstrate progress on fighting corruption and rebuilding public institutions - demands explicitly mentioned in Barrack’s recent paper.
Meanwhile, Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan warned against turning the cabinet session into a divisive flashpoint. He cautioned that politicizing national unity through controversial agenda items could undermine the government’s constitutional legitimacy.
Qabalan emphasized the need for the cabinet to focus on rescue programs and sound policies rather than responding to foreign pressures or calculating Israeli strikes. He stressed that excessive concessions could destroy Lebanon, adding that this moment requires safeguarding national unity and avoiding what he described as “a foreign-led strategy of regional destabilization.”
He also expressed confidence in President Aoun’s understanding of national strength and sovereignty, warning that a weak Lebanon would become easy prey in a region already engulfed by turmoil.
