Beirut [Lebanon], March 3: The Lebanese government has declared Hezbollah's "military activities" illegal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Monday.
The Cabinet decided to "outlaw all of Hezbollah's security and military activities," Salam said in a televised address. The Shiite militant and political organization wields far-reaching influence in Lebanon, including representation in parliament and providing social services. The militia also uses Lebanon as a base for launching attacks against Israel, often with the support of Iran.
Monday's decision follows renewed military clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
In response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday during a joint US-Israeli attack, Hezbollah fired several rockets at Israel overnight.
That attack has triggered retaliatory strikes by Israel that has left at least 31 dead in Lebanon. The Israeli military attacked multiple targets, including in the suburbs of the capital, Beirut. Hezbollah is Iran's most important non-state ally and is often viewed as Tehran's long arm in its confrontation with Israel.
In solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel as early as October 2023. This escalated into months of mutual shelling, which finally erupted into open conflict in late 2024.
Hezbollah has been significantly weakened ever since. As part of a ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah was supposed to disarm.
The Lebanese state has since been under pressure to enforce Hezbollah's disarmament.
Source: Qatar Tribune
