Lebanon's Foreign Minister Joe Raggi delivered a scathing indictment of Hezbollah, accusing the group of once again sacrificing Lebanon's national interests on the altar of Iranian foreign policy.
Joe Raggi © FER
Lebanon's Foreign Minister Joe Raggi did not mince his words Sunday at an emergency Arab League session convened to condemn Iran's missile attacks against Gulf states, Jordan and Iraq.
Raggi delivered a scathing indictment of Hezbollah, accusing the group of once again sacrificing Lebanon's national interests on the altar of Iranian foreign policy.
"Hezbollah has once again ignored Lebanon's supreme interests to serve foreign agendas, dragging Lebanon into a war that does not concern it," he declared, holding the group directly responsible for triggering "brutal Israeli military operations against several Lebanese regions."
The minister was unequivocal: "Hezbollah takes its decisions in isolation, without any regard for the state and its official institutions. The Lebanese government and people are not responsible for these acts and their consequences."
A Government Order Hezbollah Simply Ignores
On March 2, the Lebanese government took the unprecedented step of banning all Hezbollah military activities and ordering the group to immediately surrender its weapons to the state — a decision taken hours after Hezbollah fired its first rockets into northern Israel.
The order has been completely ignored. Hezbollah continues its attacks despite a rising death toll, massive civilian displacement and the Lebanese state's explicit prohibition.
It is the starkest possible illustration of Lebanon's fundamental dilemma: a government that can legislate but cannot enforce, facing a militia that obeys Tehran, not Beirut.
Raggi also expressed Lebanon's full solidarity with the Gulf states, Jordan and Iraq, all targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes following the US-Israeli operation that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei on February 28.
The message from Beirut is clear: Lebanon did not choose this war. Hezbollah chose it, for Iran.
A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Thursday and President Donald Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end.
Lebanon’s president will not speak to Israel’s prime minister in the near future, Lebanese officials said on Thursday, dealing a blow to U.S. efforts to expand contacts between the enemy states as Pakistan said peace in Lebanon was vital to ending the Iran war.
As the United States embarks on clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, it could draw on an arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters to reduce risks, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
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