Lebanon Bans Hezbollah's Military Activity
In a surprising move, Lebanon’s Prime Minister banned all military and security activities by Hezbollah. The decision came just hours after the Iran-backed group launched attacks on Israel, with the government citing a need to avoid dragging Lebanon into a direct regional war.
Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist political party and militant group, was founded in 1982 with support from Iran to combat the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It has since grown into a powerful force, with a paramilitary wing considered by some to be stronger than the Lebanese state's own army. The group has been a significant player in Lebanese politics, holding seats in parliament and positions in the cabinet. This decision by the Lebanese government comes after decades of Hezbollah operating as a so-called "state within a state," maintaining its own arsenal in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. Resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006) specifically called for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon. Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, mandated that the area south of the Litani River be free of any armed personnel other than the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers. Hezbollah's conflict with Israel has a long and violent history, including a 34-day war in 2006 that resulted in over 1,000 Lebanese deaths and the displacement of approximately one million people. The conflict that began on October 8, 2023, has marked the most significant escalation since the 2006 war, leading to widespread displacement in both southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The government's order tasks the Lebanese army with enforcing the ban, specifically restricting weapons north of the Litani River. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that the decision of war and peace rests exclusively with the state and described Hezbollah's recent attacks as a violation of cabinet decisions. The move to disarm the powerful Iran-backed group is seen as a critical step toward asserting the Lebanese state's sovereignty over all its territory. Internationally, the United States has been a major proponent of Hezbollah's disarmament, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously welcomed plans for such a move. Following the government's announcement, Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 31 deaths and 149 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Lebanese Justice Minister has instructed security agencies to arrest those responsible for launching the initial rocket attacks.
