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3. Hezbollah Disarmament: Cabinet Backs Army, Keeps Deliberations Confidential

Lebanon’s Cabinet backs the army’s Hezbollah disarmament plan and keeps deliberations under wraps. The army will continue monthly reports, while President Aoun and PM Salam reaffirm on-time elections, and US military aid gets a welcome boost.

The Council of Ministers decided on Monday to approve the army’s comprehensive plan to place all weapons under state control, while suspending the license of the Resalat association, a group affiliated with Hezbollah.

The decision came during a session chaired by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at Baabda Palace to discuss a ten-item agenda. Minister of Information Paul Morcos said after the meeting that, although a legal majority existed to dissolve Resalat, the government opted to freeze its activities “until the investigations conclude.”

Resalat, officially registered as a cultural and media organization, came under scrutiny after projecting images and religious symbols onto Beirut’s Raouche Rock without official permission. The illumination of the national landmark sparked widespread criticism and triggered legal action over what authorities described as violations of public and cultural regulations.

Morcos noted that the Cabinet’s decision reflects respect for due process, with the Interior Ministry and judiciary tasked with overseeing the investigation. “Although violations were committed, the Cabinet preferred to await the final results before taking a definitive decision,” he said.

During the same session, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal presented the phases of implementing the army’s weapons control plan, particularly in southern Lebanon, stressing the goal of ensuring that arms remain solely under state command. Morcos thanked “the countries that continue to support the Lebanese Army” for their assistance in this effort.

He added that President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam are “committed to holding parliamentary elections on time,” dismissing any claims of a delay. Morcos also said Aoun’s visit to New York was “successful, contrary to what was rumored,” and that the government welcomed US President Donald Trump’s Gaza initiative.