Walid Jumblatt calls Lebanese government ban on Hezbollah military activity “excellent,” warns of long regional conflict

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt commented on the Lebanese government’s decision to ban Hezbollah’s military activities and require the group to hand over its weapons, calling it an “excellent” move grounded in the core principles of the Taif Agreement.

In an exclusive interview with An-Nahar, Jumblatt emphasized the importance of the Taif Agreement, which “sets limits for all factions and prohibits armed activity outside the framework of the Lebanese state.” He noted that the presence of Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon means the group “violates international resolutions and the Taif Agreement.”

He also criticized Hezbollah deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem, saying he is “out of time and place, acting on Iranian orders at the expense of Lebanon and Lebanese citizens, including the Shiite community.”

Jumblatt praised the Lebanese army for its previous strong efforts but said it “needs more support.” He also criticized the cancellation of a military support conference, calling it “a big mistake.”

Regarding Israel’s war on Lebanon, and in response to a question about the possibility of a prolonged conflict or a ground invasion in southern Lebanon, Jumblatt said, “Anything is possible.”

He further spoke about a potential Iranian-led war, predicting “a long conflict, because the U.S. goal of toppling the Iranian regime is not easy due to Iran’s military and political structure and the presence of the Revolutionary Guard in a very large country.”