BEIRUT (Realist English). The Lebanese government on Monday announced an immediate and comprehensive ban on Hezbollah’s military and security operations, after overnight rocket launches toward Israel prompted Israeli air strikes that killed at least 31 people across Lebanon.
Following an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on Hezbollah to surrender what he described as its “illegal” weapons and to operate solely as a political party. He instructed security forces to prevent any armed activity by the group and to detain those who violate the order.
“The army must continue to implement its plan to disarm armed groups by all means possible,” Salam said, stressing that decisions of war and peace rest exclusively with the state.
Hezbollah lawmaker Mohammed Raad, who heads the group’s parliamentary bloc, criticized what he called the government’s “swaggering decisions.” While acknowledging Lebanon’s sovereign right to decide on war and peace, he said the movement did not believe it should impose strict measures against those resisting “occupation.” He argued that many Lebanese had expected a stronger stance against Israeli military action.
The escalation followed Hezbollah’s launch of rockets and drones toward northern Israel, which the group said was retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli operation. Israel responded with extensive air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, as well as towns in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 31 fatalities and 149 injuries in the Israeli attacks. Twenty of the dead were in Beirut and 11 in southern regions. Israel said it intends to intensify its campaign.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key political ally of Hezbollah and leader of the Amal movement, reportedly backed the government’s decision. Sources close to Berri said he instructed his ministers not to oppose the ban. The shift in his position was attributed to prior assurances from Hezbollah that it would not enter a wider conflict linked to Iran.
In a related development, Cypriot officials said a British military base in Cyprus was targeted by a drone believed to be of Iranian origin. A Cypriot source, cited by Reuters, said indications pointed to Hezbollah involvement. The incident followed London’s agreement to allow limited US use of its bases for defensive purposes.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in more than 50 towns in southern and eastern Lebanon, urging civilians to move at least one kilometer away from their homes. The bombardment triggered a large-scale displacement, with highways clogged by fleeing residents and dozens of schools opening as temporary shelters.
Lebanon remains weakened from the 2024 war with Israel, which severely damaged Hezbollah’s leadership and infrastructure, including the killing of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior commanders.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah “will pay dearly” for its attacks and said the group’s current leadership could become targets. Israel has reinforced forces along its northern border but indicated it has no immediate plans for a ground invasion.
Hezbollah’s latest strike marked its first claimed attack on Israel since a 2024 ceasefire. The Israeli military said the projectiles landed in open areas, with no immediate reports of casualties.
The confrontation unfolds amid ongoing efforts by Beirut to prevent Hezbollah from being drawn into a broader regional war involving Iran, as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
