There is international relief over the Lebanese state’s initiation of economic reform and arms monopolization measures, Al-Arabiya television quoted sources as saying on Thursday.

The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolph Haykal attended the UK-hosted “Dragon Group” between 4-5 August, accompanied by UK Defense Attaché to Lebanon Lt Col Charlie Smith, reinforcing the strong military partnership between Lebanon and the UK.

The Dragon Group is a UK-led initiative launched in 2018 aboard HMS Dragon to bring together Chiefs of Defense from across the Middle Eastern region. Initially comprising nine nations, the group has evolved to reflect the region’s broader security landscape. "Lebanon’s inclusion this year underscores its strategic importance and longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability," the British Embassy in Beirut said Thursday in a statement.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said overnight that the Lebanese government’s plan on arms monopolization “will fail.”

Shiite members of Lebanon's Cabinet walked out of a government meeting on Thursday in protest of the government's approval of the objectives of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's paper.

The rest of the Cabinet then voted in favor of the U.S.-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah and implement a ceasefire with Israel.

President Joseph Aoun has said that “arms monopoly will be achieved despite the difficulties and obstacles,” adding that authorities are “awaiting the army’s plan” on weapons monopolization to “discuss it and approve it.”

The government has decided to task the army with setting a plan to disarm Hezbollah.

AFP looks at how the government's decision may be implemented, and whether the Iran-backed militant group can still block it.

Hezbollah, which Lebanon plans to disarm by year end, had a formidable arsenal before war with Israel severely weakened the group last year.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in June that the Lebanese army had dismantled more than 500 Hezbollah military positions and weapons depots in the south, after a November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the foes.

Israel launched a series of air strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday night, killing two people including a child.

The strikes wounded at least three people according to the health ministry.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran supports its ally Hezbollah in its decisions, after the group rejected a Lebanese government plan to disarm it.

"Any decision on this matter will ultimately rest with Hezbollah itself. We support it from afar, but we do not intervene in its decisions," Araghchi said in a television interview, adding that the group has "rebuilt itself" following setbacks during its war with Israel last year.

Troops killed on Wednesday three "prominent" drug traffickers in a car chase in the country's northeast, the army said.

A military statement said that troops were "pursuing a car carrying the wanted individuals" in Al-Sharawneh, in Baalbek district, describing the three suspects as "among the most prominent and dangerous drug dealers".