Hezbollah-linked ministers walk out of Lebanese cabinet talks on disarming terror group

Five Shiite ministers affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal, along with one independent Shiite Muslim minister, walk out of a Lebanese cabinet meeting where ministers are due to discuss a plan to disarm the terror group, Lebanese media reports.

The session is being attended by Lebanese Army commanders, who are expected to present a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, facing US pressure, has pushed for the terror group to give up its weapons by the end of the year.

Hezbollah, which emerged significantly weakened from its war last year with Israel, has vehemently rejected laying down its arms. Israel continues to station troops at several points inside Lebanon and has carried out strikes it says are in response to Hezbollah’s violations of the November 2024 ceasefire that ended the war.

The cabinet meeting has continued despite the walkout. However, it remains unclear what the nature of the Lebanese army’s plan will be, and whether it will include the possibility of the army confronting Hezbollah over disarmament.