Five western countries back Lebanon’s state monopoly on arms, urge MPs and parties to follow suit

BEIRUT: The embassies of the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan on Thursday called on Lebanon’s political parties and lawmakers to publicly support the state’s exclusive authority over weapons and decisions on war and peace, amid growing tensions over an investigation into explosives belonging to Hezbollah. In a joint statement published by the US Embassy in Beirut, the five countries reaffirmed their backing for the Lebanese government’s efforts to establish a state monopoly on weapons and res