- 16:50
Lebanon’s government on Thursday instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions. The move came one day after Israel launched its most intense and coordinated wave of airstrikes on Lebanon since the start of the war, hitting more than 100 targets across the country.
"The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforcing the full imposition of state authority over Beirut Governorate and to monopolize weapons in the hands of legitimate authorities alone," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared.
Hezbollah’s Weapons Infiltrate Beirut
For Lebanese Armed Forces retired army general Khaled Hamade, the decision appears to have been driven by credible information suggesting that Hezbollah is reconstituting weapons depots and reorganizing armed structures within central Beirut.
“Hezbollah members have transported weapons with them into the capital, either to their temporary residences or in their vehicles. These weapons reportedly extend beyond personal firearms,” he told This is Beirut.
On April 8, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that Hezbollah has left terrorist strongholds in the southern suburbs and is repositioning north of Beirut and into mixed areas of the city. “The IDF will continue to pursue you and operate with great force against you wherever you are,” an IDF statement read.
This, Hamade said, further exposes the capital to Israeli strikes, possibly explaining the intensity of the raids witnessed this Wednesday and the decision to enforce increased oversight over weapons in the capital.
“Additionally, there are growing fears that these weapons could be mobilized in coordinated operations aimed at destabilizing the internal situation,” he said.
Implementation Challenges: Not Capacity, but Political Will
On March 4, Lebanon’s cabinet adopted a similar measure stipulating that any Lebanese citizen found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, regardless of type, would be immediately arrested and referred to the military court.
Hamade added that the government’s latest decision, closely mirroring the earlier provision, implicitly signals an acknowledgment that previous enforcement efforts have not been effectively implemented.
He said this shortcoming does not stem from a lack of competence or capability on the part of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) or security agencies. “Rather, it is closely linked to deep political divisions within the ruling establishment, particularly regarding the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons.”
“Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, led by Speaker Nabih Berri, have repeatedly intervened to dilute, delay, or circumvent such decisions,” he added.
Enforcement Doubts
Lebanon has failed to implement weapons clearance south of the Litani River, despite Lebanese Army declarations of success. This raises questions about whether the LAF have the will to implement the most recent decision to consolidate arms under state control.
For Hamade, the declaration is not a matter of capability, but a matter of will. “The Lebanese Armed Forces and security agencies possess the necessary capacity to enforce such measures,” he said.
However, effective implementation, Hamade explained, must be accompanied by firm judicial oversight to ensure accountability and the prosecution of violators.
“Additionally, the government should require security agencies to present concrete operational plans, including systematic raids on suspected locations, to ensure that enforcement is both credible and sustained,” he added.
Resistance to the decision is likely. “Undoubtedly, there will be attempts to obstruct or constrain implementation, often under the pretext of debating the legitimacy of certain weapons,” he said.
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