Lebanon Bans Hezbollah's Military
In a stunning policy shift, Lebanon’s Prime Minister has banned all military and security activities by Hezbollah. The move follows Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel and appears to be a desperate bid to prevent Lebanon from being dragged deeper into the widening regional war.
The unanimous cabinet decision declared that the authority for matters of war and peace lies exclusively with the Lebanese state. This move legally redefines Hezbollah's armed wing as operating outside the bounds of legitimate state institutions. The government has tasked the Lebanese Armed Forces with implementing a plan to consolidate control over all weapons north of the Litani River. This decision follows a series of rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah targeting military sites in northern Israel. In response to Hezbollah's attacks, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon. The Israeli strikes resulted in at least 31 deaths and 149 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, an independent who took office in February 2025, has long emphasized the need to establish state authority over all Lebanese territory. His government's formation marked a shift, as it was not aligned with the Hezbollah-led March 8 Alliance that had previously dominated Lebanese politics. President Joseph Aoun, who chaired the cabinet session, condemned the initial rocket fire, stating it did not consider the safety of the Lebanese people. Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political party and militant group, has been a dominant force in Lebanon for decades, with its armed wing considered more powerful than the national army. The group holds 15 seats in the 128-member Lebanese Parliament and has been a part of various coalition governments. While it provides extensive social services, a 2024 survey found that 55% of Lebanese have "no trust at all" in the group. The government's ban has been described as a violation of previous cabinet decisions by Hezbollah. Prime Minister Salam has urged the international community to help halt Israeli aggression and ensure the implementation of international resolutions. He has also dismissed threats of civil war, stating that the vast majority of the Lebanese people are against Hezbollah's military actions.
