Lebanese military cautions against protests

(MENAFN) Lebanon’s Army Command issued a stern warning on Saturday against actions that could threaten national security, following online calls for protests over the government’s plan to place exclusive control of weapons under state authority.

In an official statement, the military cited Lebanon’s “exceptional challenges,” including ongoing Israeli violations of its sovereignty and a fragile security situation. The army noted that some individuals have used social media to organize demonstrations and spread fabricated videos to stir division among citizens.

While supporting peaceful expression of opinion, the army stressed it will not tolerate security breaches, civil unrest, road blockades, or attacks on public and private property. It urged citizens and political groups to act responsibly and maintain unity to address Lebanon’s current dangers.

The government’s move to centralize weapons control has faced opposition from Hezbollah, which insists it will retain arms until Israel fully withdraws from Lebanese territory. Israeli military operations, which began in October 2023 and escalated into war by September 2024, killed over 4,000 people and injured around 17,000. Despite a ceasefire in November, Israel continues near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon and maintains a presence at five border outposts, postponing its complete withdrawal past the original January 26 deadline.

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