GEOFF BENNETT: The Lebanese government# is close to approving an American plan## to disarm the U.S. designated-terrorist# group Hezbollah.

The decision marks an## historic first to dismantle the Iran-backed group.

The agreement proposes an aggressive timeline to# complete Hezbollah's disarmament by the end of## the year in return for Israel's withdrawal from# Lebanon's south, plus an end to hostilities.

Special correspondent Simona# Foltyn has more from Beirut.

SIMONA FOLTYN: A new order is taking shape in# the ruins of Lebanon's latest war.

Last year,## Israel killed almost the entire# leadership of Hezbollah and thousands## of its fighters.

Now there is a plan# to take what remains of its weapons.

Not far from where Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's# leader for 30 years, was killed with U.S.-made## bunker-busting bombs last fall, I sat down# with one of the group's Parliament members.

HUSSEIN HAJJ HASSAN, Hezbollah Member of# Lebanese Parliament (through translator):## This was an American paper that# was discussed within the Lebanese## government.

The paper is a complete submission# from the Lebanese to the American government.

SIMONA FOLTYN: The so-called American# paper was presented by President Trump's## special envoy Tom Barrack.

The backlash was# further fueled last week when he called the## Lebanese press corps animalistic# during a chaotic news conference.

TOM BARRACK, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria: And I# want to tell you something.

The moment that this## starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we're# gone.

So you want to know what's happening, act## civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is# the problem with what's happening in the region.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Barrack later# apologized for those comments.

The plan he is pushing wants the Lebanese# government to first disarm Hezbollah, and## only then would Israel consider withdrawing from# the areas it still occupies in Lebanon's south.

TOM BARRACK: Is, they will meet tit for# tat, in exact cadence, what we will do in## an effort to make sure that Hezbollah is# not armed as an adversary against them.

SIMONA FOLTYN: If you reject this agreement,# what is the alternative that you are proposing?

HUSSEIN HAJJ HASSAN (through translator):# The alternative is for Israel and America to## comply with the cease-fire agreement# that was signed on November 27,## 2024.

Why is the United States not insisting# on Israel's obligations under that agreement?## Why is the United States imposing things on# Lebanon, but not imposing anything on Israel?

SIMONA FOLTYN: That November cease-fire# was also guaranteed by the United States,## as well as France.

But according to the# U.N. peacekeeping mission called UNIFIL,## Israel has committed around 8,000# violations since it went into effect,## including drone surveillance,# airstrikes and ground operations.

I'm headed towards the border# with U.N. peacekeepers who are## monitoring the situation on the ground.

So, on the other side of that wall, that's Israel?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI, U.N. United# Nations Interim Force In Lebanon: Yes, on## the other side, we have Israel.

SIMONA FOLTYN: And what's# the closest IDF checkpoint?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: On the right,## you can see the tower.

The red and white tower# .. SIMONA FOLTYN: Have you seen any# Hezbollah activity in recent months?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: Personally,# no, we don't have -- see any kind of this## activity.

Some violations, there is from IDF# side, more or less, not from Lebanon's side.

SIMONA FOLTYN: The IDF carries out near daily# bombardments, like these airstrikes captured on## video on Sunday.

Israel has also built at# least five new outposts on Lebanese soil.

My understanding right now is# that you cannot drive on some## parts of the roads that is on the Lebanese side.

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: OK. SIMONA FOLTYN: What is the reason for that?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: Because, at the moment,## there is an IDF position close to# this position, but we are wo.. to regain freedom of movement and to remove any# kind of roadblock that are in this position.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Meanwhile, Lebanon has# largely complied with the cease-fire,## with only 21 projectiles fired from# Lebanese territory since November.## Hezbollah has surrendered more than 500# weapons stores and military installations## in Southern Lebanon, taking steps for# the first time to fulfill its obligations## under a U.N. resolution that ended the# 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The new agreement has moved the goalposts,# requiring Hezbollah to also give up weapons## elsewhere in the country.

For decades, Hezbollah's# military capabilities have far exceeded those of## the Lebanese armed forces, earning it a reputation# of a state within a state.

While Hezbollah's## Shia constituents see Washington's plan as an# affront to Lebanon's sovereignty, Hezbollah's## detractors see it as an historic opportunity# to weaken the group's influence over the state.

Within the Lebanese government, the# effort is championed by U.S.-backed## President Joseph Aoun, a Christian# and former Lebanese Army commander.

JOSEPH AOUN, Lebanese President (through# translator): We urge, without hesitation,## to affirm that weapons are exclusively in# the hands of the army and security.. in order to restore the world's# confidence in us and in the ability## of the state to maintain its security# in the face of Israeli aggressions.

SIMONA FOLTYN: But the push for# Hezbollah's disarmament by the end## of the year risks leaving Lebanon# with few means to defend itself.

Dr. Mohammad Haider is one of four Shia# Cabinet members who oppose the plan.

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER, Lebanese Minister of# Labor (through translator): We know that,## when the Lebanese Army i.. out the tasks required.

At the moment, when# Israel decides to strike any area in Lebanon,## it has no ability to prevent any plane from# reaching its target, let alone shoot it down.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Why is it that until# now, the Lebanese Army is so weak?

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator): This is# a political and diplomatic decision.

Until now,## there has been an international decision not# to supply the Lebanese Army with weapons.## Whenever we try to find a country that# is willing to provide weapons to Lebanon,## the Americans decide that it's forbidden to# arm Lebanon except through American channels.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Washington provides around# $150 million annually to the Lebanese army,## most of which goes towards non-lethal# equipment.

That's around 1 percent of## the $12.5 billion in military# aid given to Israel last year.## The U.S. has promised Lebanon to increase military# aid to $1 billion per year for the next 10 years.

Do you believe that this is a firm commitment?

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator):# There are no guarantees.

Who can guarantee## its continuity for 10 years?

And will this# money give the army the ability to defend,## or will it just be used for symbolic# things like vehicles and other devices?

SIMONA FOLTYN: On the ground, the Lebanese army is# spread thin, a lone vehicle here and there; 4,500## additional troops should be recruited and trained# by December.

Many Christians support the idea.

Chadi Sayah is the mayor of Alma El Chaab,## a Christian village less than a# mile from the border with Israel.

CHADI SAYAH, Mayor of Alma El Chaab, Lebanon# (through translator): The Lebanese government## includes different sects, religions and components# of Leb.. the government decides.

We believe in Lebanese# institutions.

We believe in the Lebanese army.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Some fear that Washington's plan# could pit the Lebanese army against Hezbollah,## while fueling tensions between# Lebanon's different sects.

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator):## Israel's goal is to turn the battle into# an internal ba.. be easier for it to keep the southern# lands or invade other lands under the## pretext that the Lebanese people are distracted# with each other and unable to provide security.

SIMONA FOLTYN: It's all part of a broader# reshuffle taking place in the Middle East, but, in## Lebanon, it risks upsetting the delicate balance# of power that has kept internal conflict at bay.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Simona Foltyn in Lebanon.