Lebanon Bans Hezbollah Military Activity
In a major policy shift, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities. The move is a calculated effort to prevent Lebanon from being dragged into the escalating regional conflict after the group launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel.
The Lebanese government's decision follows a significant escalation by Hezbollah, which launched a barrage of rockets and drones at an Israeli missile defense site near Haifa on March 2nd. The attack was claimed by Hezbollah as retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation days earlier. This was the first time Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire. In response to the attacks, Israeli jets conducted extensive airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, these retaliatory strikes resulted in at least 31 deaths and 149 injuries, signaling a severe uptick in regional hostilities. The Israeli military has indicated that all options, including a ground operation, are being considered. Prime Minister Salam's ban is part of a broader, long-standing effort to assert state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory. This aligns with UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, which have for years called for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. The government has ordered the Lebanese army to enforce the decision, specifically to restrict weapons to state control north of the Litani River. The move by the government of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, which took office in early 2025, has been described as the harshest official stance against Hezbollah to date. Salam explicitly stated that the "decision of war and peace rests exclusively with the state" and that Hezbollah's unauthorized military actions are "illegal acts." Hezbollah has forcefully rejected the government's push for disarmament. Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem labeled the focus on disarming the resistance a "major mistake" that serves Israeli interests. Qassem argued that Hezbollah would not disarm under pressure and accused Israel of violating the 2024 ceasefire agreement. The ban sets the stage for a significant internal confrontation in Lebanon, which is still recovering from the 2024 war with Israel that weakened Hezbollah's leadership. Hezbollah and its political allies, such as the Amal Movement, have condemned the government's decision, indicating a period of heightened political tension and uncertainty lies ahead.
