As Lebanese Cabinet Meeting on Disarmament Ends Without Clear Commitments, Hezbollah Praises its ‘Wisdom and Reason’

Latest Developments

Government Disarmament Plan is an “Opportunity”: A senior Hezbollah official has responded positively to the Lebanese cabinet’s meeting to discuss a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) plan to establish a state monopoly on weapons. Speaking to Reuters on September 6 following the meeting the previous day, Mahmoud Qmati said the plan offered “an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason, preventing the country from slipping into the unknown.” The three-hour cabinet meeting saw all five Shi’ite ministers walk out in protest before ending without a timeline for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, with Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos telling reporters that the plan’s implementation “remains contingent upon the commitment of other parties, primarily Israel.”
Israel Ready to Reduce IDF Presence in Lebanon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled on August 25 that Israel was ready to scale back its military presence in Lebanon if the Lebanese government followed through with its promise to disarm Hezbollah. “Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations,” Netanyahu stated. He praised efforts by the Lebanese government, including its president and prime minister, on a “significant step” to “work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025.”
Iran Seeking New Mechanisms to Fund Hezbollah: Local Lebanese media outlets reported on September 5 that Iran has been increasing its efforts to transfer funds to Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon, through Iraq and Syria. According to the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat news outlet, both Syrian and Lebanese security officials have reported growing attempts by Iran to smuggle cash to Hezbollah, noting that some aid had likely been successfully delivered to the group while other shipments were intercepted. MTV Lebanon News, meanwhile, reported that, according to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who visited Lebanon on August 26 with a bipartisan congressional delegation, the United States has precise intelligence that $500 million had reached Hezbollah in recent weeks alone.

FDD Expert Response

“Lebanon’s decision on LAF’s disarmament plan was not a decision, but an exercise in prevarication. Lebanese officials refused to discuss the details of the plan and its implementation, or whether they had even adopted the plan at all. Lebanon’s bottom line remains that it has fulfilled its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a state monopoly on arms, as well as the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, insisting that the onus is now on the international community to provide Lebanon with funding, and on Israel to halt its operations in and withdraw from Lebanon.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“The LAF’s plan remains secretive, and the conditions set by the Lebanese — primarily the withdrawal of Israeli forces from five disputed points in southern Lebanon — are unrealistic and provide no guarantees that Hezbollah will actually be disarmed. Rhetoric alone is insufficient for either the U.S. or Israel to take Lebanon seriously. What is needed is a clear, detailed plan with a defined timeline from the Lebanese side.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst