Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam announces ban on Hezbollah’s military activities

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Nawaf Salam says all Hezbollah activities are ‘illegal’ after the group launched attacks on Israel from Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has issued a statement saying Hezbollah’s military and security activities are banned, hours after Israel responded to the Iran-linked group’s rocket and drone attacks by launching air strikes on southern Beirut.

“We announce a ban on Hezbollah’s military activities and restrict its role to the political sphere,” Nawaf said.

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“We declare our rejection of any military or security operations launched from Lebanese territory outside the framework of legitimate institutions.”

The prime minister said all Hezbollah activities were “illegal” and called upon the security forces to “prevent any attacks originating from Lebanese territory.”

“We declare our commitment to the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of negotiations,” he added.

The Iran-allied Lebanese armed group said early on Monday that its attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “in defence of Lebanon and its people” and “in response to the repeated Israeli aggressions”.