The Lebanese government welcomed a plan presented by the army on Friday to disarm Hezbollah, the country’s most formidable military force, in an unprecedented move that risks sparking internal conflict.

Lebanon’s Cabinet has met to discuss a plan by the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah and consolidate weapons under state control.

Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati told Reuters on Saturday that the group considered Friday’s cabinet session on an army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms "an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason,