US, UK back Lebanese state arms monopoly
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The UK, US, Australia, Canada and Japan urged Lebanon's MPs and parties to back state-only war decisions.
The push tests whether Hezbollah's weapons can be brought under state control.
Background
Lebanon's government under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has moved to extend the Lebanese Armed Forces' monopoly over arms and restore full state sovereignty. Hezbollah, a non-state Shia military and political group designated a terrorist organisation in the UK and US, with Iran as its long-time primary backer, agreed in the 2024 ceasefire deal to remove its fighters and weapons from southern Lebanon. The embassies' joint statement follows that pressure campaign and comes as Lebanon's government has taken increasingly assertive steps on the issue.
How it unfolded
- May 14, 2025Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in an exclusive interview he aimed to bring all weapons under state control by 2025 through direct dialogue.
- Aug 2025The new Lebanese government asked the Lebanese Armed Forces to draw up plans for a state monopoly over all weapons by December 2025, following international pressure, particularly from the United States.
- Mar 2, 2026The government formally banned Hezbollah's military activities, described as the most assertive such declaration any Lebanese government has ever made.
- Nov 5, 2026The embassies of the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and Japan issued a joint statement affirming strong support for the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the state monopoly of arms.
Key terms
- Hezbollah
- A Lebanese Shia Islamist political party with an active paramilitary wing.
- Lebanese Armed Forces
- The national military of Lebanon, comprising ground forces, air force, and navy.
- MPs
- Representatives in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The five embassies said they, as friends of Lebanon, affirm strong support for the government in ensuring the state monopoly of arms and that the state alone decides on war and peace, and urged all MPs and parties to publicly commit to this.
- Official
- Lebanon's Foreign Minister affirmed the state's firm stance on restricting weapons to legitimate institutions and extending full authority over all territory.
- Party
- Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem has rejected discussing a full disarmament.
Still unverified
US proposals reportedly discussed by the cabinet were for a four-stage process including LAF deployment across Lebanon, Israeli withdrawal, and an economic conference to support reconstruction.