Overview

• President Joseph Aoun has demanded that Hezbollah hand over its weapons to the army by year’s end.
• The cabinet has instructed the military to supply arms exclusively to state security forces under reported US pressure.
• Hezbollah chief Naim Kassim warned that any forced disarmament would trigger a civil war and threaten Lebanon’s unity.
• Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have postponed planned protests but have warned of potential future demonstrations targeting the US embassy.
• US officials have reportedly tied disarmament progress to resuming talks on ending Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.