Hezbollah boycotts cabinet session over Iran’s ambassador expulsion

2026-03-26 - 15:21

Hezbollah is an armed movement backed by Iran, which also has political representation in both government and parliament. (EPA Images pic) BEIRUT: Ministers from Hezbollah and its ally Amal boycotted Lebanon’s cabinet session on Thursday in protest after the government declared the Iranian ambassador persona non grata, a Lebanese official told AFP. The two Shia parties have a combined four ministers, while one independent Shia minister was instead present at the meeting, the official said, as the spat over the Iranian diplomat’s expulsion escalated. Hezbollah is an armed movement backed by Iran, which also has political representation in both government and parliament. Lebanon’s foreign ministry this week gave the Iranian ambassador until Sunday to leave the country, the latest unprecedented step by Lebanese authorities since a new war erupted on March 2 between Israel and Hezbollah. The foreign ministry had accused him of making statements “interfering in Lebanon’s internal politics”. Hezbollah has called the decision a “sin” and demanded the authorities reverse the move. On Thursday, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Iranian embassy to protest the decision, AFP correspondents said. Some waved Iranian, Lebanese or Hezbollah flags or chanted “death to America, death to Israel” near the embassy, located on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburbs, which Israel has repeatedly bombed in recent weeks. Protester Mohammed, who declined to provide his surname, told AFP that “we came here to show our support for the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon so that the government will back down on this decision, which is not befitting” of Lebanon. “There are a number of ambassadors in Lebanon who violate our sovereignty, who speak and act to stir up internal strife, but nobody says anything to them,” he added. “This decision will not pass,” said protester Elham al-Mokdad, adding: “We stand with Iran proudly. Iran has supported us for 40 years.” Farida Noureddine, 43, instead demanded the expulsion of the US ambassador in Lebanon and of Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. Raggi “does not represent us. He is carrying out Israeli decisions,” she said. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel has responded with heavy air strikes and has sent ground troops into the country’s south. Beirut this month banned any activity by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and also prohibited Hezbollah’s military activities.