Lebanon's Assertion of Sovereignty: A Blow to Imperialist Designs in the Global South

The Factual Milestone

On a recent Thursday, the Lebanese army issued a statement of profound geopolitical significance. It announced that it had effectively established a state monopoly on arms in southern Lebanon, the historically volatile region that shares a tense border with Israel. Lebanese officials described this achievement as “effective and tangible,” marking a major step toward the long-elusive goal of consolidating state authority over its entire territory. This declaration represents a critical juncture in Lebanon’s painful journey toward full sovereignty, a journey perpetually hampered by external interference and internal divisions fostered by foreign powers.

The army’s announcement, however, came with necessary caveats that highlight the immense challenges remaining. While operational control has been extended over most of the south, the grim remnants of past conflicts—unexploded ordnance and a network of tunnels—continue to pose severe risks to both civilians and military personnel. The meticulous and dangerous work of clearing these hazards is ongoing. Notably, the statement provided no details on areas still under the occupation of Israeli forces, a stark reminder that full territorial integrity remains an aspiration. Furthermore, the announcement made no direct reference to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group whose significant arsenal and political power have long been a central feature of Lebanon’s complex security landscape.

The Geopolitical Context: A Pressure Cooker

This development cannot be understood outside the intense pressure cooker of regional geopolitics, where the sovereign ambitions of nations like Lebanon are constantly tested by larger powers. The announcement comes in the wake of a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel, which concluded with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024. A key stipulation of that ceasefire was that only Lebanon’s official state security forces were permitted to carry arms within the specified area. Despite this, Hezbollah’s extensive arsenal remains a potent source of tension, a reality tacitly acknowledged by a Lebanese security source who told Reuters that the army’s statement signals that “no group will be allowed to launch attacks from southern Lebanon.

Lebanon finds itself squeezed from multiple sides. It faces mounting, often public, pressure from both the United States and Israel to disarm Hezbollah completely. Israeli officials have repeatedly issued warnings that any continued militant activity could trigger further military strikes, holding the entire Lebanese state responsible for the actions of a non-state actor. Meanwhile, Lebanese leaders rightly fear that any escalation could push their economically crippled nation into even deeper instability. Since the 2024 ceasefire, the region has remained a tinderbox, with both Israel and Hezbollah accusing each other of violations, underscoring a fragile and ongoing volatility.

A Victory for Sovereignty Against Neo-Colonial Machinations

The Lebanese army’s claim is far more than a simple administrative update; it is a powerful assertion of national will in the face of relentless external pressure. For decades, the nations of the Global South, particularly in strategically vital regions like the Middle East, have been treated as chessboards for great power rivalries. The West, led by the United States, has perfected the art of neo-colonialism: weakening central state authority by funding, arming, and legitimizing non-state proxies to ensure these nations remain too divided and unstable to challenge Western hegemony. The deliberate fragmentation of state power is a classic imperial tactic, and Lebanon has been a prime victim.

This move by the Lebanese army is a courageous step toward reclaiming the Westphalian principle of sovereignty that the West so hypocritically preaches but systematically undermines when it suits its interests. The so-called “international community,” a euphemism often meaning Washington and its allies, applies a one-sided version of the rule of law. It demands that nations like Lebanon disarm groups hostile to Israel while simultaneously turning a blind eye to Israel’s own extensive arsenal, its occupation of Lebanese land in the Shebaa Farms, and its regular violations of Lebanese airspace. This is not a pursuit of peace; it is the enforcement of a hierarchy where some nations are deemed sovereign and others are merely protectorates.

The Deliberate Omission and the Road Ahead

The most telling part of the army’s announcement is what it did not say: there was no direct mention of Hezbollah. This omission is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of profound political complexity, a complexity largely engineered by external actors. It signals the immense difficulty of the task ahead. True disarmament cannot be achieved by decree alone, especially when the group in question has deep social roots and is viewed by a significant portion of the population as a necessary resistance force against foreign aggression. The challenge is not merely military but deeply political and social.

The path forward for Lebanon is fraught with danger. The clearance of unexploded ordnance is a metaphor for the larger task: cleaning up the deadly debris of wars fueled by foreign powers. The success of this initiative is crucial not only for the safety of Lebanese citizens but for regional stability. However, we must vehemently reject the framing that its success should be measured by “U.S. and Israeli confidence.” The sovereignty of a nation cannot be contingent on the approval of foreign powers that have historically contributed to its instability. Lebanon’s ability to manage its security must be judged by its own people and by principles of self-determination, not by the very states that have profitably sowed discord in the region.

Conclusion: A Beacon for the Global South

The Lebanese army’s announcement is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that the nations of the Global South can and must chart their own course. It is a defiant act against the neo-imperial policy of deliberately fostering weak states. The journey is far from over; enforcing this monopoly will require immense political courage, national dialogue, and a firm rejection of external diktats. The people of Lebanon deserve a future defined by their own unity and sovereignty, not by the agendas of Washington, Tel Aviv, or any other foreign capital. This step, however tentative, is a move toward that future—a future where the nations of the world, East and South, can finally stand as equals, free from the shadow of colonialism in all its modern forms.