CAIRO: Egypt on Tuesday urged the international community to better support Lebanon’s armed forces as the country moves forward with a plan to disarm the militant group Hezbollah and bring all weapons under state control.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting in Cairo ahead of next month’s Paris conference in support of the Lebanese army, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty praised “the success of the Lebanese army in completing the first phase of the plan.”
“This achievement reflects the efficiency of the military institution and requires intensifying international support to complete the remaining phases of the plan,” Abdelatty said.
Lebanon’s government last year committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was badly weakened in a recent war with Israel, and tasked the army with drawing up a plan to do so.
Lebanon has since received promises of support, amid a shortage of equipment, personnel and technical capabilities needed to carry out the army’s mission.
