Lebanese forces come up against legal restrictions in protecting pilot zones from Hezbollah

Lebanese forces face legal barriers preventing them from searching private properties in pilot zones meant to remain free of Hezbollah under a US-brokered agreement. Article 14 of the Lebanese Constitution protects the inviolability of the home, requiring judicial warrants for searches. Prosecutor Ahmad al-Hajj has not authorized any searches, citing the need for solid intelligence. Displacement of 20% of the population complicates property owner presence requirements. Hezbollah's civil arms continue operating in the zones, raising security concerns.

Lebanese forces are struggling against legal restrictions that prevent them from searching private properties in pilot zones, areas that the military is expected to ensure remain free of Hezbollah as part of a US-brokered agreement between Beirut and Jerusalem. Just over a week since the IDF withdrew from the pilot zones, Lebanese newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour reported that the forces are struggling to fulfill their responsibility as they currently lack the legal right to inspect private property. Article 14 of the Lebanese Constitution establishes the inviolability of the home, requiring judicial warrants for searches. Prosecutor Ahmad al-Hajj told the site that he has not issued any decision authorizing the search of any private residence, and that in many areas, few buildings remain intact enough to hold Hezbollah weapons. He stated that searches require prior authorization from the prosecution, granted only on the basis of serious evidence. Constitutional law expert Adnan Sayyed Hussein added that during each search operation, the mukhtar and the property owner must be present. Given that around 20% of Lebanon’s population was displaced during the peak of the war, requiring a property owner’s presence might prove difficult. Justice Minister Adel Nassar noted that while the principle of inviolability must be upheld, the law prohibits possession of military equipment inside a private residence. The legal restrictions are not the first issue raised regarding the Lebanese Armed Forces’ ability to police the pilot zones; Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization has continued operating in the zones, raising security concerns.