Lebanon Bans Hezbollah's Military Activity
In an extraordinary move, Lebanon’s Prime Minister has banned all military and security activities by Hezbollah. The decree is a clear attempt to prevent Lebanon from being pulled into the spiraling conflict between Israel and Iran, though enforcement against the powerful group remains a major challenge.
The Prime Minister's decree follows a direct military escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran in February 2026, which included major attacks on Iranian territory. Hezbollah responded to these attacks by launching rockets and drones at northern Israel, an act Prime Minister Nawaf Salam labeled a violation of cabinet decisions and a threat to national security. This ban is the latest step in a broader government strategy to assert state authority over all weaponry, a plan initiated in August 2025. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) recently completed the first phase of this plan, aiming to clear all non-state arms south of the Litani River, though the effort has been deemed "far from sufficient" by Israel. The government's move comes as Hezbollah is in a significantly weakened position. The 2024 war with Israel resulted in the death of most of its senior commanders, the loss of 45% of its fighters, and the decimation of its weapons stockpiles and military infrastructure. Continued Israeli airstrikes since the November 2024 ceasefire have further hampered the group's ability to rebuild. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, took office in January 2025 after his predecessor, an ally of Hezbollah, was defeated. Salam has consistently advocated for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. Lebanon is navigating this security crisis amidst a catastrophic economic collapse, with its currency having lost over 98% of its value and multidimensional poverty affecting over 70% of the population. The country has been placed on the 2026 Emergency Watchlist, reflecting the high risk of a broader humanitarian crisis if further instability occurs. The enforcement of the ban remains a formidable challenge for the Lebanese Armed Forces, which has around 60,000 personnel compared to Hezbollah's pre-2024 strength of up to 40,000 fighters. The LAF is heavily reliant on international aid, particularly from the United States, which has linked future assistance to measurable progress on disarmament.
