BEIRUT—Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council has issued a public warning to Hamas, firmly cautioning the Iranian-backed terror group against using Lebanese territory to carry out operations that could destabilize the country or threaten its sovereignty. The announcement, made after an emergency security session in Beirut, marks a rare direct message from Lebanese authorities as the region’s tensions escalate following the October 7th massacre by Hamas in southern Israel.
This warning arrives as Lebanon stands at a crossroads. For years, the country’s security and political systems have been strained under the growing influence of Iranian-backed organizations, primarily Hezbollah and, to a lesser degree, Hamas. While Hezbollah dominates southern Lebanon both militarily and politically, Hamas, responsible for the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust, has cultivated a quieter but significant presence, particularly in Palestinian refugee camps.
Council Delivers Clear Warning
The Supreme Defense Council’s statement emphasized that any unauthorized military activity by foreign entities—including Hamas—will be considered a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The council insisted that such operations not only jeopardize Lebanon’s security but also risk retaliatory responses that could endanger residents and critical infrastructure.
“Any armed action executed from Lebanese territory without state consent is unacceptable,” the statement read, according to official Lebanese sources. “This applies to all parties, including Hamas, whose activities must not compromise Lebanon’s stability or disrupt its international commitments.” The council specifically invoked United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which prohibits unauthorized armed groups south of the Litani River and requires Lebanese state authority to be the sole force in the region.
Regional Background: Iran’s Proxy War Against Israel
Hamas’s October 7th attack—widely recognized as the most lethal massacre of Jews since the Holocaust—was a watershed moment. It drew swift and decisive Israeli military responses and catalyzed an expanded conflict, with Iran and its proxy militias stepping up attacks from Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrates an increasingly complex network extending destabilizing influence across the region through Hezbollah, Hamas, and others.
Hezbollah’s domination of large areas in southern Lebanon has complicated Beirut’s ability to assert sovereignty. While the Lebanese Armed Forces retain some respect among the population, their effectiveness is limited by political paralysis, chronic underfunding, and the overwhelming firepower wielded by Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hamas has leveraged support within some Palestinian camps for organizing periodic attacks, including launching rockets across the Israeli border.
Implications for Lebanese Security and Society
Beirut’s warning to Hamas reflects fears of being further drawn into Iran’s war against Israel. Previous cross-border rocket attacks attributed to Hamas or Palestinian factions operating from Lebanon have triggered precise but forceful Israeli retaliation, often resulting in destruction and civilian displacement in southern Lebanon. The carnage of the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war remains a vivid memory for many Lebanese, who see little benefit in being used as a launch point for yet another proxy campaign.
Internal political dynamics further complicate the situation. Hezbollah’s entrenched paramilitary wing eclipses state authority along the border, but recent polling indicates a wariness among Christian, Sunni, and Druze Lebanese regarding renewed conflict with Israel. While some Shiite factions and Hezbollah loyalists continue to support confrontation, broader Lebanese society favors efforts to avoid war and maintain a tenuous peace despite the shadow cast by Iranian influence.
International Context: UN and Global Stakeholders
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) monitors compliance with Resolution 1701 along the Blue Line, regularly reporting incidents of unauthorized military activity in the region. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has reiterated its commitment to Israel’s right to self-defense and has urged Lebanese leaders to assert greater control over their territory to prevent escalation. European nations, wary of a wider Middle Eastern war, continue to press for diplomatic solutions and for reduction of Hezbollah’s influence, but Iran’s military and financial support for terror proxies remains an intractable obstacle.
Israel’s Response: Defending Its Borders
Responding to ongoing threats, Israel has reinforced its northern defensive posture and repeatedly signaled zero tolerance for attacks originating from Lebanese soil. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have stated unequivocally that Israel will hold the Lebanese government responsible for any aggression, regardless of whether attacks are initiated by Hezbollah, Hamas, or other groups. Since the escalation began, Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—led by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir—have maintained readiness, conducting targeted defensive measures and deploying advanced missile interceptors to protect civilian areas.
Hamas’s Activities in Lebanon
While smaller than Hezbollah’s network, Hamas maintains cells with operational capacity inside Lebanon, particularly in Ain al-Hilweh and other camps. It is known to coordinate logistics, intelligence, and weapons transfers with the help of Hezbollah and Iranian agents. Israeli intelligence assesses that any substantial attack from the north would likely be the result of joint planning between Hamas and Hezbollah, with direct Iranian encouragement.
The Supreme Defense Council’s move can therefore be seen as a bid to reassert some measure of national autonomy—and to send a clear message to the international community that it does not condone the use of its territory for further acts of aggression that could have devastating consequences for its own people.
Conclusion: Lebanon’s Precarious Balancing Act
Lebanon’s stark warning is evidence of deeper anxiety over being subsumed by Iran’s multi-front war on Israel and reflects skepticism among many Lebanese that further escalation serves national interests. The ability of the Lebanese government to enforce its edicts may be limited, but the Supreme Defense Council’s statement stands as an expression of Lebanon’s intent to distance itself from external provocations.
As Israel grapples with ongoing threats from all directions, including the persistent threat of terror from Gaza, southern Lebanon, and beyond, the international community faces the pressing challenges of restraining Iranian ambitions and empowering Lebanon to reclaim sovereignty. Whether these warnings will have practical effect remains in doubt, but the stakes could hardly be higher for both countries and the wider region, as security, stability, and the fate of countless civilians hang in the balance.
