Lebanese Cabinet Continues Talks on Hezbollah Disarmament Amid U.S. Pressure and Israeli Violations

Lebanon’s cabinet convened again on Thursday, August 7, 2025, to discuss disarming Hezbollah, despite the group’s rejection of the proposal, which it claims serves Israel’s interests under U.S. pressure. The meeting, held at the Baabda Presidential Palace and chaired by President Joseph Aoun, follows a Tuesday decision to restrict weapons to six official security forces by year’s end, prompted by repeated visits from U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack-to-treat-lebanons-disarmament-decision-as-if-it-does-not-exist)

Barrack’s proposals, outlined in a Lebanese cabinet agenda seen by Reuters, aim to stabilize the November 2024 ceasefire by requiring the Lebanese army to deploy and dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal while calling on Israel to halt attacks and withdraw from five occupied positions in southern Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement mandated Israel’s full withdrawal and Hezbollah’s retreat north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border, with the Lebanese army and UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) replacing them. However, Israel has continued near-daily airstrikes, undermining