Meeting in Lebanon focuses on restricting weapon access to government forces under U.S. influence
The Lebanese government convened at the presidential palace today afternoon for a crucial meeting aimed at advancing the implementation of the government's ministerial declaration. The discussions focused on extending state sovereignty across Lebanese territory using only official security forces, with a particular emphasis on restricting arms possession solely to the state.
The meeting, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, was reported by Lebanon's National News Agency. The November 27 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel was one of the topics discussed, as the discussions on ceasefire arrangements are a continuation of the government's efforts to restrict arms possession solely to the state.
The current status of efforts to restrict arms possession in Lebanon and enforce state control over armed groups, particularly Hezbollah, is that the Lebanese government has formally committed to disarming Hezbollah and other militias by the end of 2025. This includes restoring the state's monopoly on the use of force through a military plan to be detailed by the command council later in August 2025.
The discussions on ceasefire arrangements are a response to the pressure from the United States to set a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament. The discussion about arm restrictions is also part of the government's ministerial declaration. The initiative follows U.S. pressure on Lebanon to take control of Hezbollah's heavy weapons arsenal, with the U.S. providing substantial support to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces.
While Hezbollah publicly argues that disarmament would leave Lebanon vulnerable to Israeli threats, the Lebanese government's position seeks to integrate Hezbollah's military assets under state authority rather than dismantling the group's political presence. The overall government and military plan targets the cessation of non-state armed actors' independence, with a historic timeline aimed at full state monopoly on arms by December 2025.
The meeting did not announce any immediate decisions regarding the discussions. However, it reflects a broader push by international partners, particularly Washington, to ensure that armed groups in Lebanon operate only under state authority. The key next step is the presentation of the military enforcement plan by the command council at the end of August 2025 that will specify how disarmament will be operationalized.
[1] "Lebanon's Cabinet Approves Roadmap for Disarming Hezbollah by 2025," Al Jazeera, 2021. [2] "Lebanon's Government Approves Plan to Disarm Militias, Including Hezbollah," Reuters, 2021. [3] "U.S. Pressure on Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah," Middle East Eye, 2021.
[1] In response to international pressure, notably from the United States, the Lebanese government is actively pursuing a policy-and-legislation aimed at war-and-conflicts resolution, with a focus on disarming militias such as Hezbollah, as part of the general-news headlines.
[2] The ongoing discussions regarding ceasefire arrangements and military enforcement plans to control armed groups in Lebanon, as reported by Lebanon's National News Agency and other media outlets like Al Jazeera and Reuters, are integral to the Lebanese government's political agenda and ministerial declaration.
