Lebanon's cabinet on Tuesday tasked the army with drawing up a plan to establish a state monopoly on arms by the end of the year, a challenge to Hezbollah, which has rejected calls to disarm since last year's devastating war with Israel.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Tuesday said his group rejects any timetable for handing over its weapons while Israeli strikes continue, warning that the move would only serve Israel’s interests. "We do not agree to any timetable that is presented to be implemented under the umbrella of Israeli aggression,