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The Lebanese Cabinet on Thursday approved the "objectives" outlined in a US proposal concerning the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

The move came during a tense session marked by the walkout of Shiite ministers who are close to Hezbollah and their allies in the Amal movement, though they later clarified they were not resigning from government.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said the government "will make appropriate decisions based on the executive plan that the Army Command will present at the end of the month," he said.

Morcos added that the implementation of all provisions in the US paper, which was presented by US envoy Tom Barrack, would depend on each side fulfilling its obligations.

The proposal sets out the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar, who walked out of the session, said his move was meant to express opposition to the government’s apparent endorsement of the full US proposal.

“We will attend future sessions,” he told local television, emphasizing that the ministers had not resigned.

Barrack congratulated Lebanese officials for the "historic, bold, and correct decision this week to begin fully implementing the November 2024 Cessation of Hostilities agreement."

Hezbollah has harshly criticized the Lebanese government's decision to task the army with preparing a plan to disarm the pro-Iranian movement.

The group described the move as a "grave mistake" that weakens Lebanon and hands Israel a victory it failed to achieve militarily.

The movement said that Hezbollah would not agree to a new deal while Israel continues to violate the existing ceasefire and Lebanon remains under pressure.