
After Cabinet's decision on disarmament, Hezbollah supporters take to the streets
Meanwhile, according to a statement carried by several local media outlets, 'the Amal Movement called on its supporters not to participate in car or motorcycle convoys in any form, and to be cautious of inciteful posts circulating on social media.'
In the evening, a motorcade moved through the road leading to Beirut's international airport, in the southern suburbs of the capital, temporarily blocking traffic. A separate gathering took place in Beirut's Chiyah neighborhood, near Mar Mikhael Church, according to videos circulating on social media.
In the Bekaa, Hezbollah supporters staged a sit-in along the Riyak–Baalbeck highway, according to L'Orient Today's local correspondent.
In south Lebanon, protests continued late into the night in the streets of Nabatieh, Sour, Ghazieh and Haret Saida. Dozens of men on motorcycles, waving Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags, roamed through the cities, chanting slogans in support of the resistance, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem and late leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Entrances to Beirut's southern suburbs closed
According to media reports, the army reinforced checkpoints at the entrances to Beirut's southern suburbs to prevent protest convoys from leaving the area.
Earlier in the day, during a meeting that lasted several hours at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, the government approved 'the objectives outlined in the American document' presented by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack. The text calls for 'progressively ending the armed presence of all non-state factions, including Hezbollah, throughout Lebanese territory, south and north of the Litani River.'
The four Shiite ministers present at the meeting — three representing the Hezbollah-Amal coalition — walked out of the room when discussions turned to the American document. Hezbollah had previously called on the government to reverse its Tuesday decision to disarm all militias by the end of 2025.
Elsewhere, in the northern city of Tripoli, demonstrations were held in support of the government and its decisions.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


L'Orient-Le Jour
9 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Jordan's King offers condolences to Aoun over death of six Lebanese soldiers in Wadi Zibqin
BEIRUT — Jordan's King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein called Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun Sunday afternoon to "offer his condolences over the martyrdom of six soldiers in the tragic incident that occurred yesterday in Wadi Zibqin, in the Sour district," the Lebanese Presidency said in a statement Sunday. The army announced Saturday afternoon that the arms depot the soldiers were dismantling was located in the Zebqine valley, near Majdal Zoun (Sour), in south Lebanon. The deadly incident came shortly after the government approved the U.S.-backed roadmap aimed at establishing the state's monopoly on weapons — at the expense of Hezbollah's arsenal — and enforcing an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. "During the call, the Jordanian monarch expressed Jordan's solidarity with Lebanon and its army, and conveyed his country's readiness to provide the necessary support to the Lebanese Army during this critical time, in order to enable it to fulfill its role in preserving Lebanon's stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," according to the statement. "President Aoun thanked King Abdullah for his condolences and for the support that Jordan provides to Lebanon in general, and to the army in particular," the statement concluded. The bodies of the six Lebanese soldiers killed Saturday in an explosion at an arms depot in south Lebanon were returned Sunday to their respective hometowns, where they were mourned and laid to rest


L'Orient-Le Jour
9 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Our priority is to build the state and restore its arms monopoly, says Jaber
BEIRUT — Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said in a speech in Nabatieh that the priority of Nawaf Salam's government was to build the Lebanese state, but also to restore its monopoly on weapons, while specifying that the protection "of our people" remains "the absolute priority." Although nuanced, these explicit comments on the monopoly over weapons are unprecedented from a member of the Amal movement, Hezbollah's main ally, at a time when the government's decision Thursday to adopt the American roadmap for Hezbollah disarmament triggered a wave of opposition from Hezbollah. "Today, here in Nabatieh, which still mourns its martyrs and heals its wounds, I reaffirm as a government minister my unwavering commitment since we took office: our priority is building the state, strengthening all its institutions — particularly the Lebanese Army — and restoring the state's monopoly on weapons, as confirmed by the ministerial statement," Jaber declared, calling it a matter of "consensus." 'Renewing our loyalty to Lebanon alone' The minister was abroad last week during the two Cabinet meetings devoted to the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament. "I regret that political developments in Lebanon accelerated while I was abroad, prevented by previous commitments from attending the last two Cabinet sessions. Despite my absence, my position is clear and unambiguous: the protection of our people remains the absolute priority, the cornerstone of national unity," he added. Last Thursday, the four other Shiite ministers present at the meeting — including three from the Hezbollah-Amal alliance — left the room when discussions turned to the American document. Hezbollah had previously called on the government to reverse its decision, while Iran has twice publicly opposed Hezbollah's disarmament and has been condemned on both occasions by Lebanese diplomacy, which accused it of "interference." Speaking in Nabatieh, a town in southern Lebanon where he is from and which was especially ravaged by Israeli bombs during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, Jaber also addressed Israeli interference in Lebanese projects. "The crucial question to which we demand a clear answer is the following: will the others [Israel and its allies] allow us to build the state we claim and defend? Will the Israeli neighbor stop its aggression? Will there be guarantees for the cessation of attacks and its withdrawal to internationally recognized borders, so the Lebanese Army can be deployed there, in accordance with international resolutions and the cease-fire agreement?" he asked. "This is the core of the debate today, which requires clear, sincere, and committed answers, so that the state we seek to strengthen is a state of prestige, strength, sovereignty, and development. The responsibility is great today, greater than ever. What is expected of all of us as Lebanese are sincere, unified positions, good intentions, and actions based on our faith in shared life and common destiny, because when the ship sinks, it takes down everyone, regardless of class or rank," the minister continued, concluding: "We are all called to renew our loyalty to Lebanon alone and to work hand in hand to build the state we aspire to."


L'Orient-Le Jour
9 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hezbollah disarmament: The army does not want confrontation
Create an account to see the results of the poll You can enjoy 3 free articles by creating an account Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook Google Log in to your account to see the results of the polls E-mail Password Log in I forgot my password Log in with Facebook Log in with Google The ball is now in the army's court. The Cabinet decided to assign the Lebanese military the task of preparing a plan for Hezbollah's disarmament, without discussing it with the institution. It's not that the military institution would seek to challenge the decision, but the lack of unanimity within the government has created unease in the ranks, particularly in the current tense sources say the army will certainly not engage in any form of internal confrontation, whatever it may be. This comes amid growing fears of possible clashes between soldiers and Hezbollah fighters, as the government moves to limit weapons to state institutions and Hezbollah publicly dismisses the decision as analysts saw the army's recent operation in the Baalbek region — targeting a drug trafficker known as 'Abu Salleh' and... The ball is now in the army's court. The Cabinet decided to assign the Lebanese military the task of preparing a plan for Hezbollah's disarmament, without discussing it with the institution. It's not that the military institution would seek to challenge the decision, but the lack of unanimity within the government has created unease in the ranks, particularly in the current tense sources say the army will certainly not engage in any form of internal confrontation, whatever it may be. This comes amid growing fears of possible clashes between soldiers and Hezbollah fighters, as the government moves to limit weapons to state institutions and Hezbollah publicly dismisses the decision as analysts saw the army's recent operation in the Baalbek region — targeting a drug trafficker known as 'Abu... You have reached your article limit Bring clarity to every conversation this summer! Subscribe for $6.9/month instead of $12.9 for your first year. Already have an account? Log in