Hezbollah's ongoing armed presence harms Lebanon's security according to 51 percent of participants in a YouGov survey issued last month by the Council for a Secure America.

The poll tracked opinion shifts across three waves and gathered answers from 260 Lebanese civilians in Arabic during May. Prior rounds drew 253 respondents in October and 252 in January.

The survey carries a margin of error of five percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

Only 11 percent said Hezbollah's weapons improve the country's security, while many declined to answer.

Of those surveyed 58 percent backed President Joseph Aoun's push to strengthen the army and pursue Hezbollah disarmament so all armed groups fall under government authority, a slight drop from 63 percent in January. Just 10 percent opposed the effort.

On future ties with Israel 41 percent viewed peace as likely, though only 32 percent would support normalization once the Palestine issue reaches a long-term solution. Meanwhile 27 percent saw peace as unlikely and 19 percent rejected normalization even after such a resolution.

Four in ten Lebanese respondents predict eventual peace with Israel

Among Christians 43 percent favored normalization compared with 28 percent of Muslims, yet both groups grew more open since January when support stood at 19 percent for Muslims and 37 percent for Christians.

Though the topic divides opinion 40 percent believed normalized relations would aid the economy while 22 percent expected harm. Respondents over age 45 proved more optimistic at 47 percent versus 29 percent among younger participants.

Despite expectations of eventual peace more respondents wanted to retain laws that criminalize dealings with Israel. Support broke down as 32 percent for keeping the laws, 28 percent for repeal, and 40 percent declining to answer.