Lebanese FM calls for state monopoly on weapons after touring war-damaged South

Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Raggi reiterated Friday the government’s call for the exclusive control of weapons by the state, following a visit to South Lebanon where he witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by over a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.

Speaking from the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura, after an aerial tour of border villages and the Blue Line conducted by UNIFIL, Raggi said the extent of destruction from Israeli airstrikes only deepens Lebanon’s resolve to reclaim occupied territories and restore national sovereignty.

“The overflight of areas devastated by Israeli strikes, as well as the five remaining occupied military positions, only reinforces Lebanon’s determination to liberate its lands,” Raggi stated.

He further emphasized that this determination aligns with Lebanon’s broader national policy: supporting the Lebanese Army, implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and enforcing the government’s decision to ensure that the right to bear arms is reserved solely for the Lebanese state.

“This is about reaffirming the state’s full authority over matters of war and peace,” Raggi added, in a clear reference to growing domestic and international calls to curb Hezbollah’s independent military operations along the southern border.

The minister’s remarks come at a time of heightened tensions, with ongoing hostilities continuing to inflict damage on civilian infrastructure and displace residents in the region. 

UNIFIL has repeatedly called for calm and full adherence to Resolution 1701, which mandates a cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of armed groups from the border area.