Shiite members of Lebanon's Cabinet walked out a government meeting on Thursday in protest of a proposed plan to disarm the Hezbollah militant group and political organization. The rest of the Cabinet then voted in favor of the U.

Hezbollah is sharply criticizing the Lebanese government’s decision to begin a process aiming to disarm the Iran-backed group this year, saying it “fully achieves” neighboring Israel’s interests.

Protests broke out in parts of Lebanon on Thursday night after the government endorsed plans to disarm Hezbollah. Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut's southern suburbs chanting anti-government slogans in protest at its decision.