A striking majority of Lebanese citizens believe that only the national military should be allowed to hold weapons, according to a new Gallup survey. 

The poll, conducted in-person across Lebanon in June and July 2025 (excluding areas under tight control of Hezbollah or other inaccessible zones), found that 79% of respondents said weapons should be exclusively maintained by the state army. 

Support for restricting weapons to the army extends broadly across most religious and sectarian communities. The survey shows overwhelming support among Christians (92%), Druze (89%), and Sunnis (87%). Among Shia respondents, Hezbollah’s core base, support was substantially lower: just 27% backed the idea, while 69% opposed it. 

Regardless of sectarian affiliation, confidence in the Lebanese military remains very high: 94% of all respondents said they trust the army, including 98% of Shia respondents. 

Hezbollah has long defended its arsenal as essential for protecting Lebanon, portraying its weapons as part of a wider regional “axis of resistance” against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

However, Lebanese citizens overwhelmingly reject the idea of supporting Palestine through military action. According to the survey, only 10% believe Lebanon should engage directly in conflict with Israel, while 86% oppose such action. Similarly, 14% support providing weapons or military assistance to Palestinian groups, compared with 81% who are against it.

The public is somewhat more open to non-military forms of support, though opinions are divided. About half of Lebanese respondents say the country should provide economic aid to Palestinians in Palestine, and a similar share favors offering political support. Nearly the same proportion, however, say Lebanon should offer neither. Fewer support economic aid for Palestinians living inside Lebanon, with 31% in favor and 65% opposed.