Lebanon moves to end Hezbollah's military arm, FM Youssef Raggi calls it "sovereign decision"

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi declared on Thursday that ending Hezbollah's military presence is a "sovereign Lebanese decision," signaling a significant move to consolidate state authority. Speaking from the French Senate, Raggi emphasized Lebanon's commitment to state sovereignty and its refusal to revert to a "dual authority" system.

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From the French Senate, I reaffirmed that Lebanon has made its choice: there will be no return to dual authority, and there is no longer any place for weapons outside the authority of the state or for decisions taken outside its constitutional institutions.

"From the French Senate, I reaffirmed that Lebanon has made its choice: there will be no return to dual authority, and there is no longer any place for weapons outside the authority of the state or for decisions taken outside its constitutional institutions," Raggi posted on X. He added, "The decision to end Hezbollah's military presence is a sovereign Lebanese decision. It preceded the Framework Agreement and paved the way for it, affirming that decisions on war and peace, as well as foreign policy, are now the exclusive prerogative of the Lebanese state."

The minister further explained that the state's efforts to extend its control are linked to national security needs. He stressed that the "full extension of the Lebanese Armed Forces' authority across the entire Lebanese territory remains inseparable from Israel's complete withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it continues to occupy." Raggi framed Lebanon's current path as a national reconstruction effort, stating, "Lebanon today is not asking its friends to manage its crises, but to accompany its recovery. A genuine partnership is one that strengthens the state, consolidates its sovereignty, and is founded on the conviction that a free, sovereign, and democratic Lebanon is not a deferred aspiration, but an irreversible choice."

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The decision to end Hezbollah's military presence is a sovereign Lebanese decision. It preceded the Framework Agreement and paved the way for it, affirming that decisions on war and peace, as well as foreign policy, are now the exclusive prerogative of the Lebanese state.

This development follows reports that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is preparing for a White House visit before the end of July to discuss the framework agreement with Israel, signed on June 26. Aoun had previously described the agreement as "not ideal" but necessary given the current balance of power, particularly concerning Israel's control in the south. He assured that the deal would not prevent Lebanon from pursuing its rights and reclaiming occupied land.

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Lebanon today is not asking its friends to manage its crises, but to accompany its recovery. A genuine partnership is one that strengthens the state, consolidates its sovereignty, and is founded on the conviction that a free, sovereign, and democratic Lebanon is not a deferred aspiration, but an irreversible choice.