Key Takeaways
- Lebanon's cabinet has approved the objectives of a U.S. proposal aimed at disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah by the end of 2025, a significant step following a year of hostilities with Israel.
- The decision was met with internal dissent, as Shiite ministers, including those affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal, walked out of the cabinet meeting in disapproval.
- A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the New Britain area of Papua New Guinea, with the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) initially reporting it as 6.1 magnitude.
- The Lebanese army has been tasked with developing a detailed implementation plan for the disarmament, to be submitted by the end of August.
A pivotal development unfolded in the Middle East as the Lebanese cabinet on Thursday approved the objectives of a U.S. proposal aimed at disarming the powerful Hezbollah group. This move signals a significant push towards stability in a nation grappling with ongoing economic and political crises, and follows more than a year of conflict with Israel. The U.S. plan, presented by envoy Tom Barrack, sets a deadline of year-end 2025 for Hezbollah's disarmament and also includes provisions for Israeli forces to withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The cabinet's decision, however, was not unanimous. Shiite ministers, representing Hezbollah and its ally the Amal movement, reportedly walked out of the meeting in protest, underscoring the deep divisions within the Lebanese government regarding the group's future. Despite this opposition, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed that the Lebanese army has been mandated to develop a concrete implementation plan for the disarmament, which is expected to be presented to the cabinet by the end of August. Hezbollah has consistently maintained that its weapons are essential for "resistance" against Israel and has demanded reconstruction of war-torn areas and a complete Israeli withdrawal before considering disarmament. The U.S. proposal aims to "extend and stabilize" a ceasefire agreement brokered in November, which ended an all-out war but has not prevented continued Israeli attacks.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the New Britain area of Papua New Guinea on Thursday. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) initially reported the tremor at a magnitude of 6.1. The quake's epicenter was located approximately 60 kilometers east of Kokopo in the New Ireland Province. While the region is highly seismically active, with an average of 280 earthquakes of magnitude four or above occurring within 300 km of West New Britain annually, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties associated with this latest event.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.