Rajji says Hezbollah , including political wing , illegal and destabilizing

What Happened

Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji stated in an interview with French news channel LCI that Hezbollah, including its political wing, is 'a single, integrated entity' that constitutes an 'illegal military organization on Lebanese territory' and is 'nothing but an armed wing of Iran, used to destabilize the entire Middle East region.' Rajji accused Hezbollah of 'dragging Lebanon into a quagmire' and declared the military option ineffective. He praised President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for opening direct negotiations with Israel to achieve a ceasefire and enable the return of nearly one million displaced people. Rajji also called on Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon and cease its aggression, which he said has killed many innocent civilians alongside fighters.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Rajji's blunt condemnation represents a sharp departure from previous Lebanese officials' careful distinctions between Hezbollah's political and military wings. It signals growing alignment within parts of the Lebanese government with US and Saudi efforts to isolate Hezbollah, potentially reshaping domestic political dynamics and the implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire framework.

Watch For

Watch for Hezbollah's official response and reactions from its allies in Lebanon's parliament; any Iranian diplomatic or public reaction; concrete steps in the direct Lebanon-Israel negotiations; and whether the Lebanese cabinet or parliament takes measures to restrict Hezbollah's political activities or disarmament commitments.