BEIRUT: Lebanon said an Israeli strike on the country’s east on Thursday killed at least five people, in the latest attack despite a November ceasefire in a war with Hezbollah.

“The Israeli strike on Masnaa Road resulted in a preliminary toll of five deaths and ten injuries,” the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement. The state-run National News Agency reported that the strike hit a vehicle in the area, near a border crossing with Syria.

The reported strike came as Lebanon’s government was discussing Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The United States has presented Lebanon with a proposal for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year, along with ending Israel’s military operations in the country and the withdrawal of its troops from five positions in south Lebanon, according to a copy of a Lebanese cabinet agenda.

US plan sees Hezbollah disarmed by year-end

The plan, submitted by US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, Tom Barrack, and being discussed at a Lebanese cabinet meeting on Thursday, sets out the most detailed steps yet for disarming Hezbollah, which has rejected mounting calls to disarm since last year’s devastating war with Israel.

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said following the cabinet meeting on Thursday that the cabinet approved only the objectives of Barrack’s plan but did not discuss it in full.

“We did not delve into the details or components of the US proposal. Our discussion and decision were limited to its objectives,” Morcos said.

The objectives of the US proposal would include phasing out the armed presence of non-state actors including Hezbollah, deploying Lebanese forces to key border and internal areas, ensuring Israel’s withdrawal from the five positions, resolving prisoner issues through indirect talks, and permanently demarcating Lebanon’s borders with Israel and Syria.

The US proposal aims to “extend and stabilise” a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel brokered in November. “The urgency of this proposal is underscored by the increasing number of complaints regarding Israeli violations of the current ceasefire, including airstrikes and cross-border operations, which risk triggering a collapse of the fragile status quo,” it said.

Disarmament plan

Phase 1 of the plan would require the Beirut government to issue a decree within 15 days committing to Hezbollah’s full disarmament by Dec 31, 2025. In this phase, Israel would also cease ground, air and sea military operations.

Phase 2 would require Lebanon to begin implementing the disarmament plan within 60 days, with the government approving “a detailed (Lebanese army) deployment plan to support the plan to bring all arms under the authority of the state”. This plan will specify disarmament targets.

During Phase 2, Israel would begin withdrawing from positions it holds in south Lebanon and Lebanese prisoners held by Israel would be released in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

During Phase 3, within 90 days, Israel will withdraw from the final two of the five points it holds, and funding will be secured to initiate rubble removal in Lebanon and infrastructure rehabilitation in preparation for reconstruction.

In Phase 4, within 120 days, Hezbollah’s remaining heavy weapons must be dismantled, including missiles and drones. In Phase 4, the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar and other friendly states will organise an economic conference to support the Lebanese economy and reconstruction and to “implement President Trump’s vision for the return of Lebanon as a prosperous and viable country”.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025