Thousands of Fugitives to be Reclaimed by Ukraine
In Lebanon, the details of the Hezbollah disarmament are causing contention, as the government's recent approval of a US proposal demanding Hezbollah give up its weapons while the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdraw from southern Lebanon has sparked debate.
The Lebanese government has tasked the national army with preparing a plan aiming for only state institutions to hold arms by the end of 2025. However, Hezbollah and its allied Shiite ministers strongly oppose this move, with Hezbollah declaring it will disregard the government’s decision as influenced by US and Israeli pressure.
Key aspects of the Hezbollah disarmament debate include deep political rifts within Lebanon, Hezbollah’s close ties to Iran, and international pressure on the Lebanese government to act. The US has required Lebanon to set a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament, increasing pressure on the government to act. Despite this, Hezbollah refuses to disarm, maintaining its weapons independently of the Lebanese state.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump have discussed Russia sanctions over the phone. However, the specifics of this discussion are not provided in the article.
Aid flights for the Gaza Strip are another topic of controversy, with flights from the air being considered dangerous, expensive, and inefficient according to criticism from aid organizations. Despite not being connected to the details of the Hezbollah disarmament debate, the aid flights for the Gaza Strip are not mentioned in relation to it.
The deadline for Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine, set by US President Trump, is due at the end of the week. The exact outcome or decisions made during the conversation between Zelenskyy and Trump about Russia sanctions are not mentioned. The conversation between Zelenskyy and Trump occurred, but the implications for Russia sanctions are not clear from the article.
References:
[1] Al Jazeera. (2025, August 6). Lebanon cabinet backs US arms monopoly plan, Hezbollah vows defiance. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/6/lebanon-cabinet-backs-us-arms-monopoly-plan-hezbollah-vows-defiance
[2] The New York Times. (2025, August 6). Lebanon Approves Plan to Disarm Hezbollah, but Opposition Is Likely. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/world/middleeast/lebanon-hezbollah-disarmament.html
[3] The Washington Post. (2025, August 6). Hezbollah vows to defy Lebanese government after approval of US arms plan. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hezbollah-vows-to-defy-lebanese-government-after-approval-of-us-arms-plan/2025/08/06/c7577d3a-e30c-11e9-b098-55d8e698f201_story.html
- The US-proposed plan for Hezbollah's disarmament in Lebanon is a subject of intense political debate, as the Lebanese government seeks to establish an arms monopoly for state institutions by the end of 2025, a move strongly opposed by Hezbollah.
- The ongoing debate over Hezbollah's disarmament in Lebanon is interlaced with deep political rifts within the country, geopolitical considerations, such as Hezbollah's close ties to Iran, and international pressure on the Lebanese government to act.
