Lebanon’s Supreme Defence Council has officially warned the Palestinian group Hamas that any operations from Lebanon that could violate national sovereignty or draw the country into regional conflicts are unacceptable. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
This warning came amid growing pressure from the United States to disarm armed groups operating outside the state’s control. The statement of the Lebanese Defence Council was a clear signal of the state’s intention to establish a monopoly on the use of force.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a former army commander-in-chief, stressed his “unwavering commitment to neutrality” and reminded that Lebanon would not allow any party to jeopardise its security. “We support the rights of the Palestinian people, but not at the cost of Lebanon’s stability,” the presidential spokesman said.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to surrender illegal weapons and stop the activities of armed groups, including Hamas, which, according to him, could destabilise the country and threaten national security.
It should be noted that according to the UN resolution after the 2006 conflict, Lebanon was obliged to disarm all non-governmental groups and dismantle illegal military infrastructure on its territory.
