Hezbollah on Wednesday accused the Lebanese government of committing a “grave sin” by adopting what it described as a U.S.-backed disarmament plan that would weaken Lebanon’s defenses and strip it of its right to resist Israel.

In a strongly worded statement, the Iran-backed group denounced the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for approving a decision it claims would dismantle the arsenal of Hezbollah and other armed groups outside state control. Hezbollah warned that the move would serve Israeli interests and leave Lebanon vulnerable to further aggression.

“The government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has committed a grave sin by adopting a decision that strips Lebanon of the weapons of resistance against the Israeli enemy,” the statement said. “This weakens Lebanon’s position and capabilities in the face of continued Israeli-American aggression, and grants Israel what it could not achieve through military action."

Hezbollah said the decision violates both the Taif Agreement and the government’s own ministerial statement, which commits Lebanon to liberate all occupied territories and to deploy the Lebanese Army across all sovereign territory.

“The weapons of the resistance are part of Lebanon’s strength,” Hezbollah said, insisting that preserving these arms is one of the “necessary measures” mentioned in the cabinet’s policy statement.

The group also called for strengthening the army by providing it with adequate weapons to defend and liberate Lebanese territory.

According to Hezbollah, the government’s move was taken under direct U.S. pressure and tied to proposals made by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.

“This decision came as a result of dictates from the American envoy Thomas Barrack,” the group claimed, citing Prime Minister Salam’s own remarks during the cabinet session in which he announced that the government had agreed to continue discussions on the American proposal and tasked the army with drafting a plan to restrict weapons by the end of the year.

“This decision serves Israel’s interests completely and leaves Lebanon exposed to Israeli aggression without any deterrent,” Hezbollah said.

Hezbollah also accused the government of undermining a previous commitment by President Joseph Aoun, who in his inauguration speech had pledged to hold national dialogue on a comprehensive defense strategy.

“What the government has now decided is instead part of a strategy of surrender and a blatant collapse of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Hezbollah said, adding that the decision contradicts Aoun’s vow to empower the Lebanese state to repel Israeli occupation and aggression.

In protest, ministers affiliated with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement walked out of the cabinet session; a move the party described as a collective rejection not just on behalf of the resistance but of “broad segments of Lebanese society across regions, sects, and political affiliations.”

“This decision compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty and gives Israel a free hand to tamper with its security, borders, politics, and even its future existence,” the group said. “We will treat this decision as if it does not exist.” 

Still, Hezbollah said it remains open to dialogue, particularly regarding a national defense strategy, but stressed that any such discussions must not take place under the current climate of Israeli aggression.

“We are ready to discuss a national security strategy, but not under the shadow of aggression,” the statement read.

Hezbollah emphasized that Israel must first fulfill its own obligations, and urged the Lebanese government to prioritize “all necessary measures to liberate Lebanese land still under Israeli occupation,” as stated in its own ministerial declaration.

“To our honorable people, we say: this is nothing more than a summer cloud that shall pass, God willing,” Hezbollah concluded. “We have learned to endure, and to prevail.”