Lebanon's Berri calls for dialogue over plan to disarm Hezbollah of weapons

Lebanon's Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, top Shia Lebanese leader and an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, called on Sunday for dialogue over its weapons, days before the government is expected to approve an army plan to disarm the group under U.S. pressure.

Months after Israel's devastating war on Lebanon and under heavy US pressure, Lebanon's government this month tasked the army with drawing up a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Hezbollah strongly opposed the decision, and Shia ministers, including representatives from the group and Berri's Amal Movement, withdrew from the last government session in protest.

"We reiterate that we are open to discussing the fate of those weapons... in a calm and consensual dialogue," Berri, an influential Shia leader, said in a speech commemorating the 1978 disappearance of Amal founder Musa al-Sadr.

Lebanon's ministers are set to meet again on Friday after receiving the army's plan.

Berri criticised the government's moves, which are based on a US proposal.

"What is proposed in the American paper goes beyond the principle of (a state) weapons monopoly, and rather appears as an alternative to the November ceasefire agreement," he stated.

Hezbollah emerged heavily weakened from a devastating war with Israel that ended in a ceasefire signed in November.

The agreement states that Hezbollah is to pull its fighters north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Israel.

Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon but has kept them at five points it deems strategic, with Washington linking a full Israeli withdrawal with the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also suggested the two issues are linked.

Israel has kept up attacks in Lebanon despite the truce.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army said it carried out a strike on a site run by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported intense strikes in the area, where serious damage was recorded.

A later strike on a motorcycle killed one man, according to the NNA.

Lebanon is entering a critical week of political consultations ahead of a Cabinet session scheduled for Friday to discuss the Lebanese army’s implementation plan to bring all weapons under state control. The meeting comes amid anticipation over the response to a dialogue initiative launched on Sunday by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Berri's alternative initiative is to hold a national dialogue "under the framework of the constitution, the presidential oath, the ministerial statement, domestic laws and international agreements". He said such a process should lead to the development of a national security strategy that would protect Lebanon, secure its internationally recognised borders, and help liberate occupied land.

But parties opposed to Hezbollah and Amal are insisting the government move forward with the army’s disarmament plan and reject any backtracking. They argue the current political moment presents a rare opportunity to resolve the issue, warning that delays or ambiguity could deepen risks for the country. They also say previous attempts at dialogue have failed.

Sources told The New Arab's Arabic Edition that Berri’s proposal is currently under review by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Both men are reportedly committed to any steps that could avert internal conflict, while also maintaining their stance on consolidating all weapons under state authority. They also support holding Friday’s Cabinet session and encouraging full participation to debate the plan drafted by the army. While no final decision is expected during the session, both leaders view the meeting as a crucial opportunity for institutional dialogue.

The sources said Aoun is also conducting foreign contacts, notably with France and the United States, to press Israel to uphold its commitments. Lebanese officials have also pointed to steps already taken by Beirut as evidence of its seriousness in implementing its decisions and are calling for reciprocal measures and international guarantees to address Lebanese concerns.

A source close to Berri told The New Arab that the Speaker had presented his initiative and reiterated his call for dialogue, saying crises in Lebanon cannot be resolved without consensus. The source added that Berri had not dismissed the US paper entirely, noting that Lebanon has not violated any agreements, whereas Israeli violations have increased since the stated objectives were agreed upon.

Attention has also turned to the army’s disarmament plan. A senior military source told The New Arab that an expanded military committee had developed a phased proposal. It covers types of weapons and the geographic rollout of the plan and was drafted carefully to safeguard civil peace and national stability.

The source said the plan begins with the removal of arms and an end to military activity south of the Litani River — a process that has already begun. However, Israeli occupation and attacks have hindered the army’s ability to fully deploy in the area. Future phases would target regions north of the Litani and elsewhere. The plan also outlines the challenges facing the army, including resource shortfalls, and includes a call for increased support to strengthen its operational capacity.

Meanwhile, ministerial sources from the Lebanese Forces party — which opposes Hezbollah — said their ministers would not engage in any dialogue over non-state arms. They insisted the only legitimate venue for such discussions is the Cabinet table.

“All previous dialogues led by Speaker Berri have failed,” one source told The New Arab, adding that “no one is fooled by them anymore.” The source said Hezbollah’s weapons are unjustifiable and warned that their continued existence could lead to Lebanon’s destruction. “If Hezbollah genuinely prioritises Lebanon’s interests and is not acting on Iran’s behalf, then it should hand over its arms to prove it,” the source said.