Lebanon Bans Hezbollah's Military Activities
In a stunning policy shift, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has banned all military and security activities by Hezbollah on Lebanese soil. The move follows Hezbollah's direct participation in attacks on Israel and is seen as an attempt by Beirut to distance itself from the escalating Iran-Israel conflict and avoid being drawn deeper into a regional war.
The ban follows years of international pressure for Hezbollah's disarmament, most notably UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Adopted after the 2006 Lebanon War, the resolution called for an area south of the Litani River to be free of any armed groups other than the official Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers. Hezbollah was uniquely exempted from the 1989 Taif Accords, which ended Lebanon's civil war and mandated the disarmament of all other militias. It was allowed to keep its arms under the justification of being a "resistance" movement against Israeli occupation, eventually growing into a military force widely considered more powerful than the state's own army. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who announced the ban, is a veteran diplomat and jurist who previously served as the President of the International Court of Justice. He took office in February 2025, with his appointment viewed as a move toward political reform and curbing the influence of Hezbollah, which opposed his premiership. The government's decision came after Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks against Israel. These attacks were in response to a US-Israeli military campaign that killed Iran's Supreme Leader. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 31 deaths. Previous attempts to disarm the group have failed. In May 2008, when the Lebanese government moved to dismantle Hezbollah's private telecommunications network, the group's militants seized control of parts of West Beirut. The confrontation ended with Hezbollah gaining veto power within the government. The current ban may have been enabled by Hezbollah's recent military setbacks. During intense conflict with Israel since late 2023, the group suffered significant losses, including the assassination of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024. The Lebanese cabinet has tasked the army with implementing a plan to ensure a state monopoly on weapons. President Joseph Aoun has suggested a framework where former Hezbollah fighters could be integrated into the Lebanese Armed Forces, though not as a distinct unit.
