Lebanon's foreign minister described Hezbollah as an unlawful military organization and an Iranian arm working to destabilize the region, according to a statement.
In a notable public rebuke from within the Lebanese government, the foreign minister characterized Hezbollah as an 'unlawful military organization' and an 'Iranian arm' that is actively working to undermine regional stability. The statement, reported at 11:33 Jerusalem time, marks a sharp escalation in official Lebanese rhetoric against the Iran-backed group, which remains the country's most heavily armed faction and a key Tehran ally.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, tensions between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah have been rising. A senior Hezbollah figure recently criticized the head of the Lebanese government, accusing the regime of hostility toward Iran. This statement by the foreign minister appears to deepen that rift, coming from a senior government official rather than the broader political opposition.
The designation of Hezbollah as 'unlawful' by a senior Lebanese minister carries political weight, but it is not immediately clear whether it reflects a shift in government policy or enforcement. The group continues to operate openly and maintain its military infrastructure in Lebanon, and has claimed ongoing operations against Israeli forces.
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