News - Middle East: Intensified Israeli military strikes on southern Lebanon coincided Friday with a sensitive government session in Beirut set to debate a controversial plan concerning the principle of “exclusive state control over weapons.”

Al-Masirah correspondent in Beirut, Zahraa Halawi, reported that the escalation comes at a critical juncture, with air and ground assaults targeting several towns along the border. In Ansariya, Israeli enemy's warplanes struck a facility for bulldozers and excavation machinery, which had been used to clear rubble and rebuild destroyed infrastructure. The targeting, Halawi noted, reflects a clear intent to obstruct reconstruction efforts in southern villages.

Israeli enemy's forces also carried out live-fire attacks in Yaroun, while reconnaissance and armed drones hovered over southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and even flew at low altitude above Beirut’s southern suburbs, fueling heightened public anxiety.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s cabinet is expected to discuss the Lebanese army’s proposal on weapons regulation. The plan has sparked heated debate across the political spectrum. Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Loyalty to the Resistance, warned that any attempt to disarm the resistance before addressing national priorities would amount to “participation in the aggression,” stressing that halting Israeli attacks, rebuilding the south, and securing withdrawal from five disputed border points must come first.

According to Halawi, the Lebanese Armed Forces are seeking to avoid internal confrontation. The draft plan does not set a rigid timetable for disarmament, recognizing that forced implementation could risk division within the army itself and potentially trigger civil strife.

The outcome of today’s cabinet session remains uncertain, with speculation over whether the weapons issue will be raised early in the agenda or deferred. As political factions brace for confrontation in the conference hall, Israeli violations and ongoing military pressure on the ground continue to drive Lebanon deeper into a state of tension and uncertainty.

The attacks come amid ongoing violations across various parts of Lebanon, despite the ceasefire announced on November 27, 2024.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has vowed not to disarm, cautioning that if the Israeli enemy managed to enforce the scheme through US pressure, the Zionists would then seek to expand its occupation.

In a recent speech, the resistance movement’s Secretary-General emphasized that Hezbollah will not lay down its arms or allow the Israeli enemy to attack and occupy Lebanon at will. He accused Washington of driving the disarmament agenda, while underscoring Hezbollah’s defensive role in safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.

The Hezbollah chief recalled the group’s historic role in expelling Daesh and Takfiri groups from eastern Lebanon, as well as repelling Israeli invasions. Since its establishment in 1982, Hezbollah has forced Israel into retreats, including the liberation of southern Lebanon in 2000 and resistance during the 2006 war, while Israel continues to occupy the Shebaa Farms.