Lebanese Army

Lebanon Bans Hezbollah’s Military Activities, But Stops Short of Terrorism Label

In an unprecedented move, Lebanon’s government on March 2 banned all Hezbollah’s military and security activities and instructed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to immediately move forward with its plan to disarm the militia. The decision came hours after a Hezbollah rocket barrage into Israel, which triggered a widescale military ...

Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon: Israel’s Advance Raises Questions About Lasting Presence

As Israel ramps up its military campaign against Hezbollah, Israeli troops advanced into southern Lebanon on Tuesday morning and established a buffer zone described by Tel Aviv as a limited defensive maneuver aimed at protecting northern Israeli communities. However, security sources interviewed by This is Beirut said that the maneuver could be ...

Israel Signals Unwavering Resolve to Eliminate Hezbollah

Lebanon was drawn into the widening Middle East war on Monday after Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel, saying the attack was in support of its backer Iran and in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with intense airstrikes, targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the ...

Aoun: State Monopoly on Arms “Irreversible”

President Joseph Aoun asserted on Tuesday that the Cabinet’s decision to prohibit illegal military and security activities is a sovereign and final measure that “cannot be reversed,” in reference to Hezbollah’s rocket fire toward Israel. Speaking during a meeting with the Quintet Committee, Aoun reiterated that the government’s ...

Time for Lebanon’s De-Hezbollahfication

Lebanon has tasted the nightmare Israel faced on October 7, 2023. Iran’s Islamist regime and its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, are irrational actors who cannot be trusted with a single bullet, let alone entire arsenals, regardless of the paper promises they sign. Israel recognized this existential threat and has since been taking preemptive ...

Cabinet Demands Hezbollah Disarm “Immediately”

In an extraordinary session held at Baabda Palace, Lebanon’s Council of Ministers on Monday adopted sweeping decisions aimed at asserting state authority over armed activity within Lebanese territory, following renewed rocket launches from southern Lebanon and escalating regional tensions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the ...

Lebanon, France Postpone Paris Security and Disarmament Conference Amid Regional Tension

Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed in a phone call on March 1 to postpone the international conference in Paris, originally scheduled for March 5, which aimed to support Lebanon’s security forces and advance disarmament of non-state armed groups. The leaders cited the absence of appropriate ...

Israeli Escalation in Lebanon Sends Warning to Hezbollah on Iran

As regional tensions mount over the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, Israel has escalated its operations in Lebanon, signaling that Jerusalem will not accept any attempt by Hezbollah to open a front in support of Tehran. Israel’s recent waves of bombardment in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley were “clearly pre-emptive,” ...

Cairo Hosts Preparatory Meeting for Conference Supporting Lebanese Armed Forces

A preparatory meeting for the upcoming international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and security services was held Tuesday in Cairo, bringing together Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Raed Abdallah, and representatives from several countries. During the ...

Praise or Pressure: What CENTCOM's Commendation for the LAF Tells Lebanon

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper’s praise of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) for uncovering a "massive underground tunnel" near the southern border represents far more than routine diplomatic protocol. While his February 9 statement commended the LAF, it implicitly contested the Lebanese army’s announcement the previous month ...

Undisclosed Lebanon–Israel Talks Under U.S. Sponsorship Advance: Report

Undisclosed negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, sponsored by the United States, have reportedly made substantial progress, a well-informed source told Nidaa al-Watan. According to the source, the talks are being led by a senior Lebanese figure and are based on reciprocal trade-offs. Lebanon is pressing Israel to show flexibility regarding ...