Lebanese Shiite Survey Shows Majority Support for State Control of Hezbollah Arms
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
A survey of 800 Lebanese Shiites found that 66.4% support transferring Hezbollah's weapons to the state and 71.1% believe the government alone should decide on war and peace. While 59.5% still trust Hezbollah, this represents a significant drop from earlier polls. The Lebanese army is favored for national security by a majority of respondents. The survey was conducted in September by Statistics Lebanon and published on October 9.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 66.4% of Lebanese Shiites surveyed support transferring Hezbollah's weapons to the state.
- 71.1% of Lebanese Shiites believe only the state should make decisions on war and peace.
- Trust in Hezbollah has fallen to 59.5%, down from 85% in early 2024.
- The Lebanese army is seen as the primary contributor to national security by 51.1% of respondents.
- A majority of Shiites surveyed feel Hezbollah did not achieve its war objectives or did so at a high cost.
A recent survey of Lebanese Shiites indicates a significant shift in public opinion regarding Hezbollah's arsenal and the state's role in national security. Conducted in September by Statistics Lebanon and published on October 9, the poll of 800 Shiite citizens reveals that 66.4% favor transferring Hezbollah's weapons to the state in some capacity, while 71.1% believe decisions on war and peace should solely rest with the Lebanese government. However, only 16.5% support an immediate, unconditional handover of weapons to the Lebanese army.
The survey also highlights a decline in trust towards Hezbollah's leadership and its performance in recent conflicts. A majority of respondents, 67.4%, feel Hezbollah did not achieve its war objectives or did so at a very high cost. Furthermore, 42.1% expressed disappointment or anger regarding the organization's conduct during and after the war. Despite this criticism, 59.5% still express some or a lot of trust in Hezbollah, a notable decrease from 85% in a similar survey conducted by Arab Barometer in early 2024.
The Lebanese army, in contrast, enjoys strong confidence, with 78.5% of respondents trusting it and 51.1% viewing it as the primary contributor to long-term national security, far exceeding the 16.5% who chose Hezbollah. Regarding Hezbollah's future role, opinions are divided: 34.8% prefer it to focus solely on political activities, while 34% support a continued combination of political and military engagement independent of the state.
The poll also explored views on security arrangements with Israel. While 63.3% reportedly support some form of agreement, specific breakdowns show 17% favor a bilateral border security agreement, and 24.9% prefer a third-party mediated accord. The survey, conducted among Shiites aged 18 and above, utilized a geographically representative sample with face-to-face and telephone interviews. Statistics Lebanon, operating since 1994, did not disclose response rates, the full questionnaire, or the client who commissioned the study.
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