Arab countries reaffirm support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and state arms monopoly

BEIRUT — The Arab Interior Ministers Council on Wednesday backed “the security, stability, and unity of Lebanon” and called for “strengthening the state’s sovereignty” and limiting arms to state forces, after Hezbollah drew the country into the regional war on March 2.

At the 43rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, Lebanon, holding this year’s rotating presidency, joined other countries in strongly condemning “Iranian aggression against several Arab countries,” including Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Tehran and Tel Aviv continue to strike each other, while the region’s oil-rich states have been hit by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the Israeli-American offensive against Iran began on Feb. 28.

The council called the attacks a “blatant violation of sovereignty,” a “transgression of international law and the United Nations Charter,” and a “serious threat to international peace and security.” It expressed “full support” for the affected states, commending their measures to protect citizens and institutions and reaffirming their right to self-defense. It also condemned “Iran’s continued financing, arming and activation of affiliated militias in several Arab countries” and called these actions a threat to regional stability. The council criticized “the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian and Arab territories since 1967” and its attacks on countries including Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

Speaking via videoconference, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar called on Arab countries and the international community to “support efforts aimed at ending” the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as Israel seeks to occupy part of southern Lebanon. He also urged support for the government’s decision to “extend its authority over its entire territory exclusively through its own armed forces.”

The government of Nawaf Salam had already asked the Lebanese army last summer to restore the state monopoly on weapons, starting with disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani. After the war resumed on March 2, the Cabinet demanded disarmament by all means and declared Hezbollah’s military and security activities illegal. Lebanon’s UN representative said Hezbollah “unilaterally decided to wage war” on Israel, while also condemning Israeli attacks.

Hajjar said, “Lebanon is subjected to devastating Israeli attacks, in a war that has been imposed on it and which it has tried to avoid by all means. Lebanon reaffirms its legitimate right to defend its territory and its people, and calls for the support of its Arab brothers and the international community to end this unjust war, put an end to the Israeli occupation of its territory, fully respect its sovereignty, and support the Lebanese government’s decision to extend its authority over its entire territory by its own means.”

He added, “The aggression and growing security challenges faced by some brotherly Arab countries are a source of deep concern for all of us. We categorically condemn and reject them, due to the violations they inflict on the sovereignty of these states and the threats they pose to their security and stability. We also reaffirm our rejection of anything that could threaten civil peace in our Arab societies or destabilize their security through illegal terrorist or subversive activities.”