Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on 2 March 2026 that the Lebanese government has banned all military and security activities of the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, restricting its role strictly to political work and demanding the group hand over its weapons to the state. The unprecedented move came amid a dramatic escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israel, which triggered Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Salam said at a cabinet meeting that “only the state can decide on war and peace” and described Hezbollah’s recent actions as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and Cabinet decisions. He ordered the Lebanese army to enforce plans to consolidate weapons under state control, particularly north of the Litani River, and called on security forces to prevent any unauthorized attacks or military operations.
The government’s decision reflects deep concern within Beirut about being drawn further into the wider Middle East conflict, which has widened since the United States and Israel’s joint military operations against Iran. Lebanese authorities and some political figures have condemned Hezbollah’s unilateral military actions as endangering national security and civilian lives.News as reported.
