CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Spillover from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has sparked renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, underscoring the growing rift between the Lebanese government and the armed group.
Since Hezbollah entered the confrontation on March 2 by launching rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire on Nov. 27, 2024, the Lebanese government has repeatedly voiced its dissatisfaction with the group's actions.
The following is an outline of the key points of contention between Hezbollah and the government in this conflict, including whether to carry out strikes against Israel, the ties with Iran, and the issue of disarmament.
-- STRIKES AGAINST ISRAEL
Hezbollah's attacks against Israel have prompted Israel to carry out an intensified military campaign targeting multiple areas across Lebanon.
Days after Hezbollah launched the attack, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a series of meetings with foreign ambassadors, affirming that the authority to decide on war and peace rests exclusively with the state and banning illegal military and security activities.
Aoun said later that the rockets fired by Hezbollah were a "trap" set for Lebanon, warning that the incident appeared designed to draw the country into a broader confrontation.
What happened at dawn on March 2, with the launching of a few rockets from Lebanon toward Israel, was an "almost exposed trap and ambush for Lebanon, the Lebanese state, and the Lebanese people," Aoun said, according to the official National News Agency.
For its part, Hezbollah has repeatedly justified its attacks on Israel.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has said that the group has prepared for a "long confrontation" with Israel and will not retreat, describing the current conflict as an existential battle.
Qassem said Hezbollah's involvement in the fighting at this stage aims to weaken Israel's position and "to reach a better agreement."
He added the group is engaged in a "legitimate defensive battle" against what he called brutal aggression that poses an existential threat.
Qassem also said that Hezbollah faced a choice between "surrender and giving up land, dignity and sovereignty" or "inevitable confrontation and resistance."
-- TIES WITH IRAN
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have long had a rift over ties with Iran, a divide that has widened with the outbreak of the conflict.
During this conflict, Hezbollah has leveraged its attacks on Israel to show solidarity with Iran, whereas the Lebanese government has repeatedly criticized Iran's involvement in Lebanon's domestic affairs.
Earlier this week, the Lebanese government declared Iran's ambassador persona non grata and ordered his departure, citing violations of diplomatic norms.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said the Iranian diplomat, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, had made statements on Lebanon's internal politics, assessed government decisions and met with unofficial Lebanese parties without prior coordination. Lebanon also recalled its ambassador to Iran for consultations over alleged violations of diplomatic norms.
In response, Hezbollah condemned the government decision and called on Lebanese authorities to reverse it.
In a statement, the group said the move lacked legal basis and described it as reckless, arguing it does not serve Lebanon's interests, sovereignty or unity. It dismissed accusations that the ambassador interfered in internal affairs as unfounded, calling the decision politically motivated.
Hezbollah warned the timing was dangerous and urged officials to adopt a unified position to confront Israeli attacks and press Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The group also accused the Lebanese foreign minister of taking positions that serve Israel while ignoring U.S. interference, warning the move could deepen internal divisions.
-- ISSUE OF DISARMAMENT
On the very day Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, the Lebanese government declared that all military and security activities outside state authority are illegal, demanding that Hezbollah disarm and surrender its weapons to state institutions.
"The Lebanese state declares its absolute refusal of any military or security actions taking place on Lebanese soil outside the framework of its legitimate institutions and affirms that the decision of war and peace rests in the hands of the Lebanese state alone," the Council of Ministers said in a statement on March 2.
However, Hezbollah has consistently refused to disarm, viewing disarmament as a concession to Israel.
"We are in a defensive battle for Lebanon and its citizens, and the responsibility of confronting the aggression is a national responsibility for everyone -- the government, the army, the people, and all political forces," Qassem, the Hezbollah leader, said in a recent statement, rejecting calls to disarm amid ongoing hostilities.
He also rejected negotiations with Israel amid the ongoing attacks and criticized calls for exclusive state control over weapons, saying such measures would weaken Lebanon and serve Israel's interests. ■
