Israel on Monday signalled it would scale back its military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese armed forces took action to disarm Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah, while the Iran-backed group reiterated its refusal to lay down its weapons.

Beirut has ordered the Lebanese army to draw up a plan to disarm the Iran-backed group which was severely weakened by a war with Israel last year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he welcomes the Lebanese cabinet’s “momentous decision” earlier this month to work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025.