Hezbollah supporters have gathered in the Lebanese capital to oppose the group's disarmament ahead of a government cabinet meeting on the issue.
Protests began in Beirut on Monday evening as the United States is pressuring Lebanon to get Hezbollah to lay down its arms.
Hezbollah emerged weakened from a war with Israel last year that eliminated most of the group's leadership, killed thousands of soldiers and left thousands of supporters stranded far from their now-destroyed homes.
In recent months, the US and Lebanon have held disarmament talks.
Lebanon's new leadership has promised to extend authority across the entire territory, but has so far avoided taking action against Hezbollah.
"Hezbollah has made its position clear: it will not disarm because if it did, it would serve Israel's interests, not Lebanon's sovereignty," said Al Jazeera reporter Zeina Khodr.
It continues that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has told the government that the group feels blackmailed because if they do not hand over their weapons, they will not be given reconstruction funds.
Ahead of Tuesday's government meeting, Hezbollah reiterated its demand that the issues of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of prisoners and the cessation of conflicts take place before disarmament discussions, the national news agency, NNA, said.
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