Lebanon moves to ban and deport Iran’s guards

Lebanon’s cabinet stated it will ban any activity by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Lebanese territory and move to detain and deport its members from the country, as reported on March 5th by The Arab World and agencies. 

Information Minister Paul Morcos said the cabinet had decided to “prevent any activity” the Iran Guards “may carry out from Lebanese territory”, and to have suspected members “detained by the competent judiciary body” ahead of deportation. He did not outline how the IRGC would be identified, which agencies would lead enforcement, or whether a timeline had been set. Officials also did not say whether the ban extends to support networks or training activity. 

The decision targets a force widely seen as a central pillar of Iranian regional influence. The IRGC is also regarded as a main backer of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group and political party that has long wielded significant influence in Lebanon. Any effort to implement the decision is therefore likely to be politically sensitive, and could become a test of the state’s ability to shape international security activity.

Morcos also stated that Iranian nationals will now require a visa to enter Lebanon, tightening entry rules that officials presented as part of the same push. 

Lebanon has broad sovereign discretion over visas and removals on national-security grounds. Lebanon acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which legally grant the possibility to expel an alien lawfully in the territory in presence of compelling national security reasons.

Contrarily, Lebanon also acceded to the Convention against Torture which bars expulsion or return where there are “substantial grounds” to believe a person would face torture, typically requiring an individual risk assessment before removal. 

If enforced, the measures would mark one of Beirut’s clearest official moves in years to limit Tehran linked security activity from Lebanese territory, though the practical impact will depend on actual enforcement.

The Arab World plus agencies, maghrebi.org