The head of state, Joseph Aoun (center), chairing a meeting of Nawaf Salam's government (on his right), on December 22, at the Baabda Palace. (Credit: Photo published on the Lebanese presidency's X account)
BEIRUT — A Cabinet meeting focused on the arms monopoly will convene Friday at 3 p.m. at the Baabda Presidential Palace, according to a source close to the presidency.
In this meeting, Army Commander Rodolph Haykal, is expected to address the second phase of the Hezbollah disarmament plan, which is to continue between the Litani and Awali rivers in South Lebanon.
This will be the first government meeting dedicated to the arms monopoly since Jan. 8, when Haykal presented the latest monthly status update of the "Shield of the Nation" plan.
On that day, the army chief stated he had achieved the objectives of the first phase of the disarmament plan, after dismantling the military structures of the Hezbollah south of the Litani River.
In response to this announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, however, that the Lebanese Army's efforts were "far from sufficient," raising the threat of another major military offensive against Lebanon.
This Cabinet meeting will take place amid growing tensions both nationally and regionally, as Israel continues its near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, where it carried out an unprecedented wave of bombings last week on areas between the Litani and Awali since the start of the Oct. 27, 2024 cease-fire.
Meanwhile, the cease-fire monitoring committee (known as the 'Mechanism') has not met since its last session on Jan. 7. Its next meeting is expected to be held in February.
