In a move being described as historic and potentially explosive, Lebanon’s cabinet has officially endorsed a plan from the national army to begin disarming Hezbollah — a step that could reshape the country’s political and military future, but risks plunging it into fresh internal conflict.

The decision comes amid mounting pressure from the United States and regional actors, who have increasingly demanded that Beirut take concrete action to curb the power of the Iran-backed militia, long considered the most powerful non-state military actor in the Middle East.

Army to Report Progress Monthly — No Timeline Disclosed

While the full details of the army’s plan remain classified, Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos confirmed on Friday that the cabinet welcomed the initiative and expects monthly progress reports from military leadership. However, no timeline has been set for implementation, and the army’s operational capacity remains uncertain.

“This is a very, very pivotal moment,” a senior Lebanese official told CNN, emphasizing that the goal is to begin — or complete — the transfer of weapons to state control by year’s end.

Hezbollah Ministers Walk Out

As cabinet discussions began, five ministers from Hezbollah and its allied Amal Movement walked out of the meeting, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, signaling the group’s outright rejection of the plan.

Hezbollah, which holds significant political power and controls a vast social services network, has long defied calls for disarmament. The group insists that its military wing is essential to Lebanon’s defense — particularly against Israel — and continues to draw support from much of the Shiite population, especially in the country’s south.

Unprecedented Move Against Iran’s Key Proxy

This marks the first time since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990 that the government has openly backed an institutional plan to disarm Hezbollah. The Taif Agreement, which ended the war, had allowed the group to remain armed under the justification of “resistance” to Israeli occupation. But that exemption is now being challenged in what officials describe as an attempt to reassert state sovereignty over all weapons within Lebanon’s borders.

The army’s plan reportedly aims to bring all non-state weapons under official control, though how it intends to confront Hezbollah — militarily, politically, or via negotiation — has not been disclosed.

Hezbollah’s Waning Power After 2023 Conflict

The timing of the government’s move is not coincidental. Hezbollah’s military standing has been significantly degraded following a year-long conflict with Israel, triggered by its support for Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

Israeli airstrikes throughout late 2023 and 2024 decimated Hezbollah’s command structure, culminating in the assassination of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. While the group remains heavily armed, its clout — both militarily and domestically — has diminished, offering what some see as a rare window of opportunity for Lebanon to shift the balance of power.

Civil War Fears Loom

Still, analysts and observers caution that any attempt to forcibly disarm Hezbollah could reignite civil war in a country already teetering on economic and political collapse.

“You don’t just pull the gun from the hand of the country’s most powerful faction without consequences,” said a former Lebanese intelligence official. “This must be managed with extreme care — or it will burn the entire country.”

As the year-end deadline for state control of arms approaches, Lebanon now finds itself at a historic crossroads — balancing between national sovereignty, civil stability, and the risks of confronting a group deeply embedded in its fabric.