Hezbollah terrorists rejected the Lebanese government’s decision to give the national army at least four months to advance the second stage of a countrywide disarmament plan of the terror group, arguing that the move ultimately benefits Israel and therefore cannot be accepted, Hezbollah said Tuesday.

In August 2025, Lebanon’s cabinet instructed the army to craft and begin carrying out a strategy to bring all weapons held by armed groups under state authority: an initiative primarily aimed at disarming Hezbollah following its 2023–2024 war with Israel.

The following month, the cabinet officially approved the army’s proposal for disarming the group, though it avoided setting a concrete deadline and warned that the army’s limited capabilities and ongoing Israeli strikes could impede progress.

Speaking Monday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem argued that “what the Lebanese government is doing by focusing on disarmament is a major mistake because this issue serves the goals of Israeli aggression.”

Information Minister Paul Morcos said during a late press conference that the government had reviewed the army’s latest monthly progress report. The plan includes limiting weapons in areas north of the Litani River up to the Awali River in Sidon, and the government granted the military a four-month window to proceed.
“The required time frame is four months, renewable depending on available capabilities, Israeli attacks and field obstacles,” he stated.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah reaffirmed the group’s firm opposition to both the timeline and the broader effort, declaring, “we cannot be lenient.”

The group has repeatedly dismissed the disarmament initiative as misguided, pointing to ongoing Israeli strikes on its members. Shi’ite ministers walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest.

Israel insists that removing Hezbollah’s weapons is essential for security, arguing that arms held outside Lebanese state control pose a direct threat, as the terrorists have pledged to not end their campaign of murdering Israelis.

Israeli officials maintain that any disarmament plan must be fully implemented, particularly in areas near the border, and that Hezbollah’s continued actions violate the ceasefire.

Israel has also indicated it will continue operations aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding or expanding its arsenal.