Society

Lebanon’s Shia base turns against Hizbullah’s arsenal

Recent polling reveals an unprecedented shift, as Lebanon's Shia community increasingly demands the disarmament of Hizbullah and restored national sovereignty.

A street vendor sells produce from a cart beside piles of rubble in Dahieh, the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on September 15, 2026. This neighborhood, long recognized as a stronghold for Hizbullah, now bears the physical scars of recent conflicts that have devastated the local infrastructure. [Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor / Middle East Images via AFP]
A street vendor sells produce from a cart beside piles of rubble in Dahieh, the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on September 15, 2026. This neighborhood, long recognized as a stronghold for Hizbullah, now bears the physical scars of recent conflicts that have devastated the local infrastructure. [Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor / Middle East Images via AFP]

By Nohad Topalian |

A major new survey conducted by Statistics Lebanon in September confirms that Hizbullah’s traditional base is effectively fracturing.

A decisive majority now supports placing the group’s massive arsenal under state control, demanding that the government exclusively manage decisions regarding war and peace.

This data aligns with previous findings from Information International, which consistently showed rising public support for disarmament and openness toward regional peace deals.

The significance of this data cannot be overstated; it indicates that the Shia community is actively seeking viable alternatives to Hizbullah’s failed governance.

Among 800 respondents, over 66 percent explicitly favor handing over the group’s weapons, while fewer than 30 percent wish for the arsenal to remain.

Additionally, 78 percent express deep confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces, viewing the state military as the only legitimate, reliable guarantor of national security.

Breaking free from Iranian influence

Opposition figures emphasize that this shift reflects a profound, long-overdue rejection of the militia's brutal hegemony over the Lebanese state.

"The Shia community pledges its loyalty to Lebanon, viewing the state and the armed forces as the sole legitimate authorities," Hizbullah's opponent Hussein Ataya told Al-Fassel.

"The public desire for peace with Israel and an end to proxy warfare is neither surprising nor entirely new," he added.

Currently, 63 percent support reaching an agreement with Israel, while over 71 percent believe the government alone must decide matters of war.

Crucially, 67 percent of respondents conclude that Hizbullah has completely failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives against Israel.

Confronting destructive militant agendas

Political activist Ali Khalifeh argues that confronting the group’s destructive, alien agenda is the only path toward genuine national restoration.

"We must confront this agenda by rooting it out militarily, intellectually and ideologically," he told Al-Fassel.

Khalifeh emphasizes the need for revoking licenses for extremist schools and permanently severing the illicit financial flows that sustain the militia’s illegal military operations.

The poll reveals that 42 percent feel deep anger and disappointment, while the vast majority now actively favor a total leadership transition.

Anxiety is mounting over the widening, dangerous gap between the Iranian regime’s priorities and the basic survival of the Lebanese people.

There can be no genuine sovereignty as long as a parallel, foreign-controlled arsenal exists within Lebanon’s borders.

The era of Hizbullah’s unquestioned authority over the Shiite community is clearly and rapidly, coming to an end.

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