The Lebanese government began discussing on Friday an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-backed militant group says plays into the hands of Israel and the United States.

In August, under heavy US pressure and fearing Israel would intensify its strikes, Lebanon's government ordered the army to draw up a plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Hezbollah reiterated its opposition to the move on Wednesday, with its parliamentary bloc calling on Lebanese authorities to "reverse their... unpatriotic decision".

Local media reported Shiite ministers, including representatives of Hezbollah and its ally the Amal movement, were at the meeting Friday, after pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al Akhbar said they may refuse to discuss the plan.

The government says disarming Hezbollah is

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