Army-proposed disarmament of Hezbollah receives backing from Lebanon's cabinet, Shiite ministers decide to leave the meeting.

In a significant development, the Lebanese cabinet has endorsed an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, a Shi'ite militant group backed by Iran. The decision comes after a year of conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

The plan was presented by Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal to the cabinet, aiming to address the ongoing debate over Hezbollah's weapons. However, the details of the plan remain secret, and its implementation may be slow due to the military's limited capabilities.

The decision has sparked controversy, with Hezbollah rejecting the push to disarm. All five Shi'ite ministers, including Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar, who is aligned with Hezbollah, have declared that any decision taken without Shi'ite participation is invalid.

Hezbollah argues that discussing disarmament is reckless while Israeli air strikes continue and southern Lebanon remains under occupation. Four people were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, further fuelling tensions.

The decision-making process in Lebanon follows a sectarian power-sharing system, and the endorsement of the army plan has been met with opposition from some government members. General Joseph Aoun, who presented the army's plan, and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib are among those publicly opposing the plan. Minister of Information George Kordahi has also expressed reservations.

Despite this opposition, the government has "welcomed" the plan but did not officially endorse it. This ambiguous stance has led to uncertainty about the future of Hezbollah's weapons and the political balance in Lebanon.

Calls for Hezbollah to disarm have come from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Hezbollah's main rivals in Lebanon. The war has unsettled Lebanon's political balance, and the endorsement of the army plan marks a significant step in the ongoing debate over Hezbollah's role in the country.

As the situation unfolds, it is clear that the future of Hezbollah and its weapons will continue to be a contentious issue in Lebanon. The implementation of the army plan, if it goes ahead, will have far-reaching implications for the country's political landscape and regional dynamics.