Beirut: Lebanon’s long-running debate over Hezbollah’s arsenal entered a new phase this week, as the Lebanese cabinet acknowledged a long-anticipated plan by the army to assert full state control over weapons. While the move was hailed as a step toward sovereignty, Hezbollah described it as an “opportunity” for national stability, but only if Israel commits to halting military action and withdrawing from Lebanese territory.
During Friday’s cabinet session, ministers broadly supported the army’s initiative, though they refrained from setting a timeline for its execution. Information Minister Paul Morcos explained that the army faces logistical and operational limits, and that the continuation of Israeli airstrikes could obstruct implementation. This cautious approach reflects Lebanon’s delicate balancing act between international pressure, internal divisions, and the powerful presence of Hezbollah, which remains the country’s most formidable non-state armed group.
Mahmoud Qmati, a senior Hezbollah official, told Reuters that his party saw the plan as a chance to restore “rational statecraft” after months of conflict and political paralysis. At the same time, he underscored that Hezbollah would not permit any unilateral steps toward disarmament. According to Qmati, the U.S.-backed roadmap agreed last month which envisions Hezbollah’s weapons being brought under state control in exchange for a cessation of Israeli strikes must be implemented conditionally. “If Israel does not halt its aggression and withdraw its forces, then the Lebanese army should suspend the plan until further notice,” he warned.
The plan’s unveiling follows repeated calls from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for a national disarmament strategy, including proposals for an international donor conference and a $1 billion annual support fund for the army. Hezbollah, however, rejected that suggestion as undermining Lebanon’s defense posture and serving Israeli interests. Still, pressure has been building from Western powers, Gulf states, and Hezbollah’s domestic rivals particularly Sunni and Christian factions who argue that no state can function with a parallel military force.
For Israel, Hezbollah’s arsenal is considered a red-line issue, and Tel Aviv has consistently demanded disarmament before agreeing to any ceasefire. Hezbollah, in turn, insists that the sequencing must be reversed: Israel must stop its military campaign before Lebanon can begin implementing the plan. This standoff underscores the knife-edge nature of the discussions, with both sides wary of appearing to compromise their strategic positions.
The Lebanese army now finds itself at the center of the nation’s most sensitive security challenge. While the cabinet’s cautious endorsement of its plan signals a willingness to move toward sovereignty, the lack of deadlines or enforcement mechanisms leaves the outcome uncertain. Much will depend on whether Israel chooses to de-escalate in the coming weeks, creating space for Lebanon to proceed without risking civil strife or regional escalation.
For now, the government’s move has opened a window of possibility, but it is one heavily conditioned by external factors. Lebanon’s attempt to navigate this path may determine whether the country inches closer to stability or is pushed back into deeper turmoil.