Lebanese FM blasts Hezbollah arsenal as threat to national survival

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Joe Raggi launched a blistering attack on Hezbollah on Tuesday, declaring the group's weapons have become "a burden on the Shiite community" and warning that only state control of arms can protect the country.

In a hard-hitting interview with Sky News Arabia, Raggi made clear that Hezbollah's arsenal no longer serves Lebanon's interests. "Your weapons can no longer protect you or Lebanon. They have become a burden on the Shiite community. Only the state protects all Lebanese," he stated bluntly.

The minister delivered a stark warning: "As long as weapons are not fully monopolized by the state, Israel will unfortunately retain the right to continue its attacks under this agreement." He emphasized that the ceasefire deal favours Israel precisely because Hezbollah refuses to disarm.

Raggi echoed President Joseph Aoun's recent call for the Shiite party to be "reasonable" about disarmament, making clear that Lebanon's future depends on eliminating parallel armed forces.

"International donors demand a state monopoly on weapons and economic reforms," Raggi stressed. "Aid, economic recovery, reconstruction, and investment all depend on this. Investor confidence cannot be restored while weapons remain outside state control."

Iran's "Direct Interference"

The foreign minister also confronted Iranian meddling head-on, describing his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as revealing "disagreements on several points, particularly Tehran's direct interference in Lebanese affairs."

"The Iranians claim not to interfere, but they exercise direct financial, military, and political interference," Raggi said. He contrasted U.S. support for Lebanon's legitimate army with Tehran's arming of "an organization that escapes Lebanese legitimacy."

Amal Movement MP Kassem Hachem condemned Raggi's comments as "insolence" and accused him of "justifying Israeli aggression." Hezbollah-aligned MP Ali Ammar called the statements "a resounding political, national, and moral failure."

The backlash underscores the fierce resistance Hezbollah and its allies maintain against any challenge to their arsenal—even as Lebanon's state institutions demand their integration under legitimate authority.