Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is considering removing his army chief due to disagreements over how to confront Hezbollah in the midst of Israel’s latest war on Lebanon, sources have told Middle East Eye.
Shortly after Hezbollah opened fire on Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader - and, it argues, pre-empt an Israeli attack - Salam on 2 March banned the armed movement from pursuing any military activities.
Since then, Israeli attacks have rained down on Lebanon - killing more than 570 people - and US officials have piled pressure on the Lebanese state to follow through with Salam’s declaration.
That US pressure appeared to ratchet up on Monday, after an Axios report suggesting Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal had resisted cabinet pressure to confront Hezbollah militarily.
Lindsey Graham, the influential Republican senator, responded by asking on X “why should the U.S. continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces with this kind of leadership?”
