Statistics Lebanon conducted a public opinion poll among 800 Lebanese Shiites during September 2026. The findings, which were released on 9 October 2026, indicate a shift in internal sentiment regarding the group's military assets. According to the data, 66.4% of respondents expressed support for transferring Hezbollah's weapons to the Lebanese state. This polling reflects the views of the surveyed population within Lebanon as of the autumn period.
Public Opinion on State Authority
Statistics Lebanon reported that 29.6% of respondents favored maintaining the status quo regarding Hezbollah's weapons. This portion of the surveyed population opposes the transfer of military assets to the Lebanese state, contrasting with those who support centralizing control. Separately, the poll found that 71.1% of respondents believed that decisions on war and peace should rest exclusively with the state. These figures reflect the opinions of the 800 Lebanese Shiites who participated in the study during September 2026. The findings illustrate divergent views among the surveyed group concerning the distribution of national authority and military decision-making processes within Lebanon.
Comparing Recent Polling Trends
Data from a previous poll conducted approximately five months before the September 2026 survey showed a different trend regarding the organization's military status. At that time, 87.5% of Lebanese Shiites expressed opposition to disarming Hezbollah. This figure provides a point of comparison for the recent findings from Statistics Lebanon, which documented a shift in public opinion toward the centralization of military assets.
Despite the movement in favor of state control, the September 2026 survey indicated that 59.5% of respondents still expressed confidence in Hezbollah. This result suggests that while a majority of the 800 participants surveyed favored transferring military weapons to the Lebanese state, a significant portion of the population retained their trust in the organization.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar challenged these findings on 21 October 2026. In an article published that day, the newspaper questioned the methodology used by Statistics Lebanon to conduct the survey. Al-Akhbar stated that the processes employed in the study did not accurately capture the sentiment of the population, thereby casting doubt on the reported results regarding the changing perspectives on Hezbollah's role in Lebanon.
