Hezbollah disarmament order paves way for normalization: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
6 Aug 2025 20:02
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Lebanon has instructed its army to draft a disarmament plan by year-end, drawing Israeli media attention and sparking speculation of future normalization.

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun leads a Cabinet meeting which discussed the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 (AP)

Israeli media outlets reported on Wednesday on the Lebanese government's decision, issued the day before, tasking the Lebanese army with drafting a practical plan to ensure that weapons are restricted to the state by year-end, implying disarming the Resistance that "Israel" sees as a threat.

Israeli Channel 14 stated, "We may be approaching a dramatic turning point, with the Lebanese government moving toward a historic process of disarming Hezbollah," suggesting that the decision "could pave the way for normalization with Lebanon in the future."

Israeli Maariv newspaper noted that "Lebanon is witnessing dramatic political shifts," adding, "If a regional partnership with Lebanon is considered in the future, it must be conditioned on strict security oversight and the disarmament of Hezbollah."

Hezbollah to treat decision as 'nonexistent'

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Hezbollah issued a statement today declaring it would treat "the government's decision on restricting weapons as nonexistent."

The Lebanese group further accused Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government of committing a "grave sin" through its weapons restriction decision, asserting that it weakens Lebanon's capabilities and position in the face of ongoing Israeli-US aggression.

Hezbollah emphasized that the decision contravenes both Lebanon’s National Pact foundations and the government’s ministerial declaration stating, "The government commits, according to the Taif Accord, to take all necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from the Israeli occupation, extend state sovereignty across all its lands exclusively through its own forces, and deploy the Lebanese Army along the internationally recognized borders,"

On August 5, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam revealed that the Cabinet had officially tasked the Lebanese Army with developing a detailed strategy to bring all weapons under state authority by year-end 2025, with the military required to present this plan for government approval by August 31

The move came after a marathon Cabinet session at Baabda's presidential palace under President Joseph Aoun's leadership, where over three hours were spent debating the contentious issue, a persistent flashpoint in Lebanon's political divisions.