BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Lebanese Cabinet on Friday embraced a plan prepared by the Army to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, but decided to keep its details confidential, stating that the military would begin implementing it based on its available and limited capabilities.
Information Minister Paul Morcos, reading a statement at the end of the Cabinet session, said that the Council of Ministers "welcomed" the plan put forth by the Army Command and its "successive phases" aimed at ensuring the implementation of the decision to "restrict weapons to the hands of the legitimate authorities."
Morcos said the Cabinet, in asking that the plan and its related deliberations remain confidential, requested the Army Command to submit a monthly report on progress made.
All five Shiite ministers, four of whom represent Hezbollah and its main ally, the Amal Movement, walked out of the session when Army Cmdr. Gen. Rodolphe Haykal Haykal joined to present the Army's plan.
Hezbollah's Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar explained in a post on X that they were protesting the discussion of the Army's plan "at this timing," arguing that achieving a "monopoly of weapons" requires initiating the process with "a defense strategy to protect Lebanon."
