Overview

• Lebanon’s cabinet directed the army to prepare by December a plan to centralize all weapons under state security forces and disarm Hezbollah under the terms of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
• Health Minister Rakan Nassereldine and Environment Minister Tamara Elzein, both aligned with Hezbollah, walked out of Tuesday’s six-hour cabinet session in protest of the decision.
• Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem denounced the cabinet decree as imposed by foreign powers and reiterated that disarmament must await Israel’s withdrawal from five contested hills.
• U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack has tied Lebanon’s reconstruction aid and broader international support to a roadmap requiring full Hezbollah disarmament in return for Israel halting strikes and pulling back troops.
• Hezbollah has warned it will resume firing missiles at Israel if military operations against its positions intensify, heightening fears of renewed cross-border hostilities.