The government went ahead with the discussion of the plan, despite five Shia ministers, including those from the militant Islamist movement Hizbollah and their allies in the Amal movement, leaving the meeting. Hizbollah and Amal ministers have now left cabinet meetings three times due to the disarmament issue and insist that Hizbollah should be allowed to keep their weapons.
In August, the Lebanese government ordered the military to draw up a plan to disarm Hizbollah by the end of the year, after pressure from the USA and in the shadow of Israeli attacks.
After Friday's meeting, Information Minister Paul Morcos stated that Beirut supports the army's proposal, which aims to strengthen the state's control and ensure that only legitimate authorities are allowed to possess weapons.
He emphasized to the press that the implementation will take place based on the army's limited resources – both in terms of logistics, equipment, and personnel. Exactly how the procedure will be carried out is confidential.
