Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi demanded that Iran cease challenging Lebanese government decisions and halt the provision of weapons and funds to Hezbollah during an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Baghdad on 18 October 2026. Minister Raggi stated, "Convinced that there can be no sovereignty when weapons are held by multiple parties, no stability when decisions are made outside state institutions, and no sustainable development without a strong and capable state, the Lebanese government decided in August 2025 to place weapons exclusively in the hands of legitimate security forces and extend state authority throughout its territory using its own forces." He added, "Nevertheless, despite our repeated warnings about the dangers of dragging Lebanon into futile wars, Hezbollah dragged the country into two devastating wars with Israel, in October 2023 and March 2026."
Sovereignty and State Authority
Lebanese government officials formalized a policy in August 2025 to consolidate the possession of military hardware under the control of legitimate security forces. This decision aimed to extend state authority across the entirety of the national territory. National leaders sought to ensure that all security operations remained under the direction of the state to maintain internal order and national jurisdiction.
Hezbollah engaged in two separate conflicts with Israel during this period. The first conflict commenced in October 2023, while the second occurred in March 2026. These military engagements resulted in significant damage to infrastructure and forced large numbers of residents to flee their homes. Government officials in Beirut identified these events as primary obstacles to the stabilization of the country and the reassertion of central governance.
Lebanon, the US, and Israel established a trilateral framework agreement in June 2026 to address these persistent security concerns. The terms of this agreement mandated the withdrawal of Israeli military units from disputed areas and facilitated the return of displaced residents to their communities. A core component of the arrangement required the restriction of weapons exclusively to legitimate security forces. This provision sought to establish a clear demarcation between state-sanctioned military actions and those of non-state actors. Negotiators involved in the trilateral talks intended for this framework to serve as a foundation for long-term regional stability, contingent upon the adherence of all signatories to the stated limitations on arms possession and territorial control.
