Politics · Other · 9 hrs ago
Aoun and Hezbollah’s dispute over weapons deepens in Lebanon
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah are at odds over who should control weapons and decide whether Lebanon goes to war.
Hezbollah supported Aoun’s election in January 2025, but the political understanding between them did not settle the dispute over the group’s independent military force.
Aoun has argued that all weapons should come under state control, while Hezbollah says it should not be pressed to disarm while Israel occupies positions in southern Lebanon.
Tensions rose further over Hezbollah’s stated position on a possible US-Iran conflict and Aoun’s insistence that decisions on war and peace belong to state institutions.
On 2 March, Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel after the US and Israel killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Lebanese government then banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities, called for it to surrender its weapons and directed the army to advance its weapons-control plan north of the Litani River.
Aoun condemned the rocket attack, and trust between the president and Hezbollah has largely collapsed, though communication continues.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah are in a deepening dispute over weapons, sovereignty and who controls decisions on war and peace.
Aoun says weapons should be under state control, while Hezbollah argues disarmament should not be discussed before Israel withdraws from positions it occupies in southern Lebanon.
Relations deteriorated sharply after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on 2 March following the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Lebanese government then banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities, called on the group to surrender its weapons and directed the army to advance its weapons-control plan north of the Litani River.
Sources on both sides say communication continues, but trust has largely collapsed.
- Who
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah, led by Naim Qassem.
- What
- They are disputing Hezbollah’s weapons and whether decisions on war and peace belong to the Lebanese state.
- When
- The dispute deepened in January 2026 and escalated sharply on 2 March.
- Where
- Lebanon, including areas north of the Litani River and positions occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon.
- Why
- Aoun wants weapons under state control, while Hezbollah says disarmament should wait until Israel withdraws from positions it occupies.
Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government
Hezbollah
Weapons
Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government
Aoun says the state should have the exclusive right to bear arms and wants all weapons brought under state control.
Hezbollah
Hezbollah rejects disarmament before Israel withdraws from positions it occupies in southern Lebanon.
War and peace
Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government
The presidency says decisions on war and peace belong to the Lebanese state.
Hezbollah
Naim Qassem said Hezbollah was not neutral in a potential conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Government response
Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government
The government banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities, called for it to surrender its weapons and directed the army to advance its weapons-control plan.
Hezbollah
A source close to Hezbollah said normal engagement was impossible while the ban remained in place and called for the decision to be reversed.
Joseph Aoun was elected president with Hezbollah’s support, ending a prolonged presidential vacancy.
In a speech marking Army Day, Aoun called for the army and security forces to have the exclusive right to bear arms.
Aoun said circumstances that had justified weapons outside state control no longer existed, and Hezbollah criticised his remarks.
Naim Qassem said Hezbollah was not neutral in a potential conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the government banned the group’s military and security activities.
- President
- Joseph Aoun
- Hezbollah leader
- Naim Qassem
- Aoun elected
- January 2025
- Rocket launch
- 2 March, following the assassination of Ali Khamenei
- Army plan
- Bring all weapons under state control north of the Litani River
What people are saying
place your bet solely on the Lebanese state
disappointment
not neutral
You could say there is Joseph Aoun 1, the army commander, and a different Joseph Aoun 2, the president. The first is not like the second.
Sources
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