• Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reaffirms refusal to disarm until Israel complies with ceasefire.
• Lebanon’s government plans to present a disarmament strategy for Hezbollah amid US negotiations.
• Israel signals willingness to withdraw military presence from southern Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms.
• US envoy Tom Barrack discusses economic incentives for Hezbollah fighters to lay down arms.
• Hezbollah remains defiant, claiming disarmament efforts serve Israeli interests.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has unequivocally rejected disarmament, insisting that the Lebanese government must first ensure Israel complies with the November 27 ceasefire agreement. He stated, “Whoever wants to take away these weapons wants to take away our souls,” reaffirming Hezbollah's stance against disarmament as a protective measure against Israeli actions, according to SCMP and Dawn.

In response, Lebanon’s cabinet has been tasked with drafting a comprehensive plan for disarming Hezbollah, which is expected to be presented by August 31, as highlighted by US Special Envoy Tom Barrack. He emphasized that this plan will not involve military coercion; instead, it will aim to encourage Hezbollah to surrender its weapons by addressing the financial dependencies of its fighters, many of whom are funded by Iran, according to TRT Global and Los Angeles Times.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israel is poised to reduce its military footprint in southern Lebanon contingent upon the Lebanese Armed Forces taking action to disarm Hezbollah. He described Israel’s position as historic, signaling a willingness to withdraw as Lebanon advances its disarmament efforts, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera.

Despite these developments, Qassem has urged Lebanese officials to reverse the decision to disarm, framing it as a concession to US and Israeli pressure. The backlash within Hezbollah underscores the challenges Lebanon faces in disarmament negotiations, particularly given the group's historical significance as a military force against Israeli actions, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

Discussions also include potential economic investments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar in a new economic zone aimed at providing livelihoods for Hezbollah members who might disarm. Barrack noted, “We cannot simply ask them to hand over their weapons and tell them to plant olive trees,” highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to Iranian funding, according to Dawn and India Times.