A new poll from Lebanon suggests that a majority of the country’s citizens oppose the disarmament of Hezbollah without a comprehensive national defense strategy in place. The survey found that 58% of Lebanese citizens are against the group surrendering its weapons under current conditions. The poll also revealed that 71.7% of the population believes the Lebanese army is not capable of confronting Israeli attacks on its own, with an even larger majority of 76% feeling that diplomacy alone is insufficient to deter Israel.
The findings are particularly relevant as they follow a Lebanese Cabinet decision, reportedly influenced by US pressure, to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah has publicly stated its intention to ignore this decision, arguing that it was made without a national dialogue on a defensive strategy. The poll’s results, which show strong opposition to disarmament across various religious sects, including Shias, Druze, Sunnis, and Christians, highlight the deep public sentiment that Hezbollah’s military capabilities are a necessary deterrent in the face of ongoing regional tensions.
Sources:
Lebanese majority opposes Hezbollah disarmament, poll shows
Hezbollah vows to ignore Cabinet’s decision to disarm
