Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Monday that his government has formally banned the military and security activities of Hezbollah, restricting the group’s role to political work, after Israel struck Hezbollah-linked sites in retaliation for rocket and drone attacks.

“The State rejects any military or security actions launched from Lebanese territory outside legitimate institutions,” Salam said after an emergency Cabinet session at Baabda Palace.

The meeting was chaired by President Joseph Aoun and attended by senior ministers and Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haikal.

“All Hezbollah military and security activities must be immediately suspended, and its role limited to the political sphere,” Salam said.

He described the group’s recent cross-border attacks as a violation of Cabinet decisions and of the principle that only the State has the authority to decide matters of war and peace. Salam said the Lebanese army had been instructed to move decisively to implement a previously approved plan to consolidate State control over weapons north of the Litani River. He also directed security agencies to prevent any attacks from being launched from Lebanese territory and called for an immediate end to Israeli strikes inside Lebanon.

In a formal statement, the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to Lebanon’s Constitution, the National Pact and the government’s ministerial platform. It condemned Hezbollah’s rocket fire as an unauthorized use of force that risks dragging Lebanon into wider regional conflict, undermining State authority and disregarding the will of the Lebanese people.

The Cabinet outlined several measures. It declared an unequivocal rejection of any military or security operations carried out outside official State institutions, requiring Hezbollah to cease all armed activities, hand over its weapons to the State and operate solely within constitutional and legal political frameworks.

Ministers also ordered the army to enforce, without delay, the plan adopted on Feb. 16, 2026, aimed at ensuring that weapons north of the Litani River fall exclusively under state control.

Seeking to prevent further escalation, the government called on the guarantor states of the ceasefire to secure a binding Israeli commitment to halt attacks on Lebanese territory, while affirming Lebanon’s readiness to resume negotiations under civilian participation and international sponsorship.

The Cabinet further tasked the Foreign Ministry with intensifying diplomatic outreach to the international community and friendly nations to press for an end to Israeli attacks and the implementation of relevant U.N. resolutions.

Finally, the Ministry of Social Affairs was directed to provide shelter, food and essential supplies to displaced civilians, in coordination with other ministries, the Higher Relief Council and national disaster management authorities.