President Joseph Own said Lebanon should not be used as a launchpad or dragged into unnecessary wars due to its instability.
Lebanon’s top security groups have warned Palestinian group Hamas against the use of the country’s territory for actions that could undermine national security after rocket fires led to counter strikes at Israel.
The High Defense Council issued a warning Friday as Lebanon faces US pressure to disarm groups outside the state’s control after a 14-month war between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah.
Lebanese authorities are also trying to establish authority across the country, particularly in the southern part of the country near the Israeli border.
Israel breached its suspension contract on a nearly day basis in November 2024, according to Lebanese authorities, including three air attacks on the capital Beirut.
In a statement, the council led by President Joseph Own said Lebanon should not be used as a launchpad for instability or be dragged into unnecessary war.
“The utmost measures and necessary steps will be taken to place a critical purpose in any act that violates Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Aoun, who previously served as the Army commander, has promised to bring in all the arms within the country under state authority, but acknowledges that disarming Hezbollah, which is pressured by the US on Lebanon, is a “sensitivity” issue.
Council executive director Mohammad al Mustafa told reporters on Friday that Aung emphasized the importance of Palestinian rights but that Lebanon should not compromise stability.
Hamas has long been in Lebanon, including camps across the country that welcome hundreds of thousands of long-standing Palestinian refugees.
Along with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Hamas fighters launched rockets at Israel across the southern border after the attack on October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a massive bombardment campaign in Gaza.
Since then, Israeli air attacks have killed Lebanese commander Hamas in early 2024, including the group’s deputy chief.
Israel cites security concerns about the continued fatal attack in Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
To address concerns between Israel and the US that brokered the ceasefire, Lebanese forces arrested Lebanese and Palestinians accused of launching rockets at Israel on March 22 and March 28.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, and Hezbollah denied involvement.
However, a Lebanese security source told AFP news agency that security forces had arrested three Hamas members.
The council said legal proceedings will begin early next week for those detained in a rocket fire in March.
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