By Al-Fassel | 2026-03-07

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the ban after Hizbullah launched a provocative rocket and drone barrage against northern Israel.

The assault, which targeted areas near Haifa and breached the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, drew swift Israeli retaliation.

In his statement, Salam emphasized that "the decision of war and peace rests exclusively with the state."

Salam's declaration followed an emergency cabinet meeting, during which the government firmly denounced all unauthorized military actions originating from Lebanese soil.

"The government absolutely rejects any military actions launched from Lebanon," Salam explained, adding that the ban represents a clear effort to reassert state sovereignty.

President Joseph Aoun echoed this position, describing the prohibition as a "sovereign and final decision from which there is no turning back."

To enforce the ban, the Lebanese army has been directed to intensify efforts to control military activities in areas north of the Litani River.

Historically, these regions have served as strongholds for Hizbullah's armed presence and terrorist activities.

Hizbullah has unsurprisingly condemned the government's decision, with Mohammad Raad, a senior Hizbullah lawmaker, criticizing it as unjustified.

He also accused the Lebanese government of escalating tensions in an already volatile environment.

Hizbullah's defiance

Hizbullah's recent attack on Israel underscores its continuing role as a key proxy for Iran.

The group described the assault as "revenge for the blood of the Supreme Leader of the Muslims, Ali Khamenei."

Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a US-Israeli bombing campaign, and Hizbullah framed its actions as a direct response aligned with Iranian directives.

This loyalty to foreign agendas places Hizbullah at odds with Lebanon's stability, as the attack has displaced tens of thousands of residents.

Civilians in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety in temporary shelters in Beirut amidst escalating Israeli retaliatory strikes.

Lebanon's government, under Prime Minister Salam's leadership, has taken an unprecedented stance by prioritizing national sovereignty over the interests of armed factions.

By banning Hizbullah's armed wing, Lebanon sends a strong message that peace and state authority must prevail over destructive proxy conflicts.