The Lebanese government has formally banned the military wing of Hezbollah, according to a report by the news outlet Al Hadath citing a diplomatic official. The report states that Lebanese authorities informed the United Nations through an official letter that the country now considers Hezbollah’s military activities to be criminal offenses.

In the letter, Beirut clarified that the decision to prohibit all forms of Hezbollah’s military operations was made on March 2. The move marks a significant policy step by the Lebanese government regarding the group’s armed activities, which have long been a sensitive issue in the country’s political and security landscape.

The report, sourced from Middle East Eye, did not provide further details on the implementation process or potential domestic and regional reactions to the ban.