Lebanon's government failed to vote on a motion to disarm Hezbollah during a heated cabinet session on Tuesday, but announced a timeframe for doing so.
After hours of tense debate marked by raised voices and deep divisions, the cabinet decided to reconvene on Thursday to continue discussions.
“The Cabinet has decided to continue discussions on the American proposal in a government session on August 7, and to task the army with drafting a plan to [limit] weapons by the end of this year, to be presented to the Cabinet before the 31st of this month,” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said after the session.
The high-stakes meetings are part of a US-backed push for Lebanon to commit to a timeline for disarming Hezbollah. But they coincided with a forceful speech by the group’s leader Naim Qassem, rejecting any disarmament, in one of the most defiant public stances in recent months.
Lebanon now finds itself in a precarious position, squeezed between US pressure and continuing Israeli air strikes and assassinations.
The talks were convened by President Joseph Aoun and began at 3pm local time at the presidential palace in Baabda. They lasted nearly six hours.
While the meeting was taking place, Mr Qassem was speaking to mark the death of an Iranian general killed during the Israel-Iran conflict in June.
A political source briefed on the meeting said that "voices were raised" among the ministers during the discussions, adding that Thursday's session could be attended by the Army commander given the key role it is expected to play.
"The session saw firm insistence from Hezbollah allies on the stance announced by Naim Qassem, whose speech coincided with the cabinet meeting. In it, he made clear remarks rejecting the surrender of weapons or the setting of any timelines, arguing that doing so would serve Israel, and stressing that this is a Lebanese issue to be discussed internally," the source said.
"The President entered the meeting with a spirit of seeking a consensus formula that wouldn’t provoke tensions in the country, aiming to ease pressure and encourage a more measured approach. It was in this context that the call for postponement was made."
Mr Qassem warned that missiles would fall on Israel if it decided to launch a wider war on Lebanon again, insisting that Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army would defend the country.
Mr Qassem said the problem was not Hezbollah's weapons, but the attacks on Lebanon.
"We cannot accept Lebanon committing to gradually giving up its strength while all the strength cards remain in the hands of the Israeli enemy,"
Mr Qassem said Hezbollah had expected a discussion about national defence that had moved to one about disarming. He reiterated Hezbollah's stance that Israeli troops should withdraw, end their bombings and release prisoners before there is any talk of disarmament.
Minutes after he spoke, dozens of men on motorcycles carrying Hezbollah's yellow flags emerged from its strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs for the second day running.
While none of the cabinet ministers are members of a political party, some were nominated by and affiliated with Hezbollah and its allies.
Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine, nominated by Hezbollah, and Environment Minister Tamara El Zein, nominated by its ally the Amal Movement, left the cabinet meeting for unclear reasons.
"Some ministers adopted an escalatory tone during the session, warning that if no timetable is agreed upon for the issue of weapons, they will withdraw from the government," said a political source briefed on the meeting
"Hezbollah allies outlined the group's red lines, namely not relinquishing sovereignty and major national causes."
A source close to the four ministers nominated by the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces refused to say what they would do if the ministers did not set out a clear timeline for disarmament, but added: “Our four ministers along with our allies will fight forcefully for a clear text with a clear timeframe."
The US and Lebanese politicians opposed to Hezbollah have demanded that the Cabinet formally announce its desire to disarm the group and a give a clear timeline for the surrender of weapons.
Nonetheless, a source said: "There is no doubt that Lebanon is in a dire situation."
"The Cabinet found itself embarrassed over the issue of regulating weapons and making a decisive decision, namely, setting a timeframe as outlined in the US proposal, specifically what was demanded by the US envoy. In other words, Washington will accept nothing less than a clear timeframe.
"However, what took place in the Cabinet was difficult and complicated due to intense pressure, talk of protests, Hezbollah supporters potentially taking to the streets, as well as threats and provocations. All of this surrounded the Cabinet’s discussions with considerable obstacles regarding this item, leading to a decision to postpone the matter until Thursday’s upcoming session."
The source described Mr Qassem's speech as "his most escalatory in a long time" and a message that "Hezbollah will not hand over its weapons".
Last week, Mr Aoun said the country's leaders must “seize the historic opportunity” to ensure all weapons are taken under state control.
The talks about Hezbollah's weapons is highly contentious and a once unthinkable topic up for discussion under rising US pressure.
Mr Salam called for the Cabinet session to conclude discussions over “the extension of state sovereignty over all its territories” and weapons exclusivity − which means disarming Hezbollah and other non-state groups.
The US proposals would mean Israel, at least in theory, ending its bombings, but included a condition that Lebanon's government pass a cabinet decision clearly pledging to disarm Hezbollah.
While Hezbollah was weakened by its war with Israel last year, it was not destroyed and retains some military power. It also commands strong backing from some in Lebanon, but particularly within its core Shiite support base.
There are fears that sectarian strife could be significantly stoked if the weapons argument is not dealt with in the right way.
In June, US envoy Thomas Barrack proposed a road map to Lebanese officials to fully disarm Hezbollah, in exchange for Israel halting its attacks on Lebanon and withdrawing its troops from five points they occupy in southern Lebanon.
There is fear that a failure to issue a clear decision on Tuesday could prompt Israel to escalate its strikes, including on Beirut.
