The Lebanese Cabinet’s recent decision to task the national army with drafting a comprehensive plan to manage all weapons within Lebanon marks an unprecedented and historic moment in the country’s troubled political landscape. For the first time, the Lebanese state has openly acknowledged the need to address the long-standing issue of armed groups operating outside state control, with a primary focus on Hezbollah’s vast arsenal. The goal is ambitious: to bring Hezbollah’s weapons under state authority by the end of the year, effectively advancing Lebanon’s sovereignty and potentially paving the way for a more stable and unified future.

This announcement, which came a day after the fifth anniversary of the devastating 2020 Beirut Port explosion-a tragedy that starkly exposed the country’s deep systemic failures-is a significant milestone. It signals a willingness within Lebanon’s fractured government to confront one of the most sensitive and contentious issues facing the nation. Yet, while the step is historic, it must be met with cautious optimism, as the path toward disarmament is fraught with complexity, entrenched interests, and potential instability.

The Lebanese state’s monopoly on weapons is a fundamental principle for any sovereign nation, yet for decades, Hezbollah has operated as a de facto armed militia beyond the control of the government or the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The state’s recognition of this challenge and its commitment to drafting a plan to reclaim control over all arms signals a critical shift, but also reveals the profound difficulties ahead.

Hezbollah’s response was swift and predictable. Even before the Cabinet meeting concluded, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem publicly rejected the plan. In a speech rich with defiant rhetoric and the familiar language of “resistance,” Qassem framed the state’s initiative as a betrayal-a submission to Israeli and US pressures-and warned against disarmament, insisting that Hezbollah alone is capable of defending Lebanon.

This narrative is deeply misleading. Hezbollah’s........

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