Lebanese ban on Hezbollah military activities was announced as Lebanon’s government moved to assert state authority, aiming to shield the country from deeper involvement in the rapidly expanding Israel-Iran regional war.
Lebanese ban on Hezbollah military activities was declared by Nawaf Salam, who said all armed operations outside state institutions are now “illegal” and incompatible with national sovereignty.
Speaking in Beirut, Salam said the government would “restrict Hezbollah’s role to the political sphere,” arguing Lebanon must not become a launchpad for regional military confrontations.
The announcement followed Israeli air strikes on southern Beirut after rocket and drone attacks attributed to Hezbollah, sharply escalating fears of wider conflict inside Lebanon.
Salam said “any military or security operation launched from Lebanese territory” without state authorisation violates the law, adding that security agencies were ordered to prevent further attacks.
He stressed Lebanon’s “commitment to a cessation of hostilities,” insisting diplomacy and negotiations, not militias, must guide national defence during an increasingly volatile regional moment.
Hezbollah said its earlier attacks were retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing its actions as “defensive” and linked to repeated Israeli aggression.
The group framed its role as protecting Lebanon, a claim long disputed by critics who argue Hezbollah’s armed wing undermines state authority and invites destructive retaliation.
Analysts say enforcing the ban will be politically difficult, as Hezbollah maintains strong influence within parliament and parts of Lebanon’s security and governance structures.
Nevertheless, the declaration represents one of the strongest assertions of state authority in years, reflecting urgency as air strikes threaten Lebanon’s fragile economy and infrastructure.
Regional diplomats warn continued launches from Lebanon could provoke sustained Israeli bombardment, making Salam’s order a high-stakes effort to de-escalate before damage worsens.
Whether Hezbollah complies or resists will determine if the Lebanese ban reshapes national security policy or remains largely symbolic amid a widening Middle East war.
This is a developing story. More details to come…
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