Lebanon’s cabinet convened at Baabda Palace on 5 August to debate a proposal that would restrict the possession of weapons exclusively to state security forces. President Joseph Aoun chaired the session, which Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called amid intensifying US pressure—delivered most recently by envoy Tom Barrack—to set a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament as part of the post-war ceasefire arrangement with Israel. Government sources said ministers deferred a formal decision after procedural discussions pushed the item to the end of the agenda. Local media later indicated the cabinet is likely to postpone a vote to a future meeting, underscoring deep political divisions over how—or whether—to curb the arsenal of the Iranian-backed group that remains Lebanon’s most powerful military actor. Hezbollah deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem dismissed Washington’s latest memorandum, which he said orders the dismantling of half of the group’s military infrastructure and the transfer of advanced launchers to the Lebanese state within 30 days. Qassem argued the movement has abided by the November ceasefire, while accusing Israel of thousands of violations. Warning that “rockets will fall into Israel” if a broader conflict resumes, Qassem rejected any deadline for surrendering weapons while Israeli strikes and the occupation of five southern hilltops continue. The standoff leaves Beirut balancing US and Israeli demands against domestic fears that disarming Hezbollah could weaken Lebanon’s deterrence and further destabilise its fragile politics.