By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Hezbollah and the Amal Movement condemned the Lebanese government’s US-backed plan to disarm the Resistance, calling it a threat to national sovereignty and a gift to Israel.

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah issued a statement on Wednesday strongly condemning Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government for advancing a plan to disarm the Resistance. Hezbollah described the move as a “grave sin” that compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty and emboldens Israeli-US aggression.

The party warned that such a decision would weaken Lebanon’s defensive posture in the face of ongoing hostilities, stating that it “grants Israel through political means what it failed to achieve militarily,” recalling past confrontations where the Resistance forced Israeli withdrawal through decisive action.

Hezbollah emphasized that the plan violates both Lebanon’s National Pact and the government’s ministerial declaration, which affirms: “The government commits, according to the Taif Accord, to take all necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation, extend state sovereignty across all its lands exclusively through its own forces, and deploy the Lebanese Army along the internationally recognized borders.”

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The party asserted that preserving the Resistance’s weapons is one of these “necessary measures,” alongside strengthening and equipping the Lebanese Army to defend national sovereignty and expel the occupation.

Hezbollah revealed that the decision was made under pressure from US envoy Tom Barrack, as acknowledged by Prime Minister Salam during the cabinet session. 

The government announced that discussions on the US proposal will resume on Thursday and that the Lebanese Army has been tasked with drafting an implementation plan to confine weapons to state control by the end of the year.

“This decision fully serves Israel’s interests and leaves Lebanon exposed without deterrence,” the statement warned.

Blow to National Sovereignty

Hezbollah also noted that the cabinet’s move disregards President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural address, in which he vowed to initiate a comprehensive national defense strategy. 

The president had stated: “I pledge to call for an integrated defense policy as part of a national security strategy, enabling the Lebanese state—yes, the Lebanese state—to remove Israeli occupation and repel aggression.”

The statement characterized the government’s stance as part of a “broader strategy of surrender” and a direct attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Ministers representing Hezbollah and the Amal Movement walked out of the cabinet session in protest. Hezbollah reaffirmed its outright rejection of the decision, saying it contradicts the will of broad segments of the Lebanese public across all sects, regions, and political groups.

“This decision subjects Lebanon to US tutelage and Israeli occupation,” the party declared. “It strips Lebanon of its sovereignty and grants Israel a free hand to violate its security, borders, politics, and existence.”

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Hezbollah stated it would treat the cabinet’s decision as null and void but remains open to dialogue on a national defense strategy—“not under aggression or coercion.” 

The statement added: “Israel must first implement existing agreements. The government’s priority should be liberating every inch of Lebanese land from Israeli occupation.”

Addressing the Lebanese people, Hezbollah concluded: “To our honorable people, this is but a summer cloud. God willing, it will pass. We have always endured, and we have always triumphed.”

Calls to Honor Ceasefire

The Amal Movement, in a separate statement, also criticized the government’s handling of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, urging officials to focus instead on halting ongoing Israeli attacks and protecting national sovereignty.

The movement stressed that Lebanon has fully complied with the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27, 2024. 

“Since November 27, 2024, the date the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy was adopted, Lebanon has abided by all its terms and continues to honor its commitments,” the statement read, adding that this stance has been maintained by both past and current governments.

By contrast, the statement accused Israel of violating the agreement from the start: “The Israeli enemy has failed to comply from the very first moment and continues its aggression through airstrikes and drone assassinations, flagrantly violating Lebanese airspace.”

The Amal Movement also highlighted Israel’s occupation of strategic areas, including the ‘Five Hills’ region, as well as its blockade preventing displaced border residents from returning to homes destroyed in previous attacks.

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The movement condemned recent government initiatives signaling a willingness to engage in new agreements with Israel, warning that such actions risk legitimizing ongoing violations.

“Rather than rushing to offer further gratuitous concessions to the Israeli enemy through new agreements, the Lebanese government should dedicate its efforts to consolidating the ceasefire and halting the Israeli killing machine, which has left hundreds of Lebanese citizens dead or wounded,” the statement added.

Accusing the current leadership of straying from national principles, Amal said: “The government is acting contrary to the President’s inaugural address and in violation of its ministerial statement.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming cabinet meeting, the Amal Movement urged the government to realign with the national consensus: “Tomorrow’s session presents an opportunity for correction and a return to the spirit of Lebanese solidarity, as was the case before,” the statement concluded.

(PC, Al Mayadeen)