USUP President Ibrahim Mrad calls for international forces to dismantle Hezbollah in interview with Fox News

BEIRUT — Ibrahim Mrad, President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) in Lebanon and Secretary-General of the Lebanese Christian Front, has called for US, UK, and German forces to intervene, in coordination with the UN and the Lebanese Army, to dismantle Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mrad estimated that 70% of Lebanon’s population does not support Hezbollah. However, he noted that the Lebanese government and military lack the strength to fully disarm the militia or prevent it from posing a future threat to Israel. He warned that this inability risks repeating past failures in addressing Lebanon’s internal challenges.

Mrad emphasized the need for international assistance to enforce UN Security Council Resolution No. 1559, which calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. He specifically urged UN forces to work alongside the Lebanese Army to achieve this goal.

Commenting on recent remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who warned of potential military action against Hezbollah, Mrad expressed concern that targeting Lebanese civilians would alienate the population and turn public opinion against Israel. He stressed that such actions could backfire, though he doubted that Israel would pursue non-Hezbollah-affiliated targets.

In related developments, the Lebanese Christian Front issued a statement urging the election of a sovereign and reformist president, one who represents the Christian community and aligns with the vision of a new Middle East. The Front also called on Lebanese authorities to uphold the ceasefire agreement with Israel and take a firm stance against Hezbollah’s actions, which it claimed align with Iranian regional agendas and risk dragging Lebanon into another destructive conflict.

The Christian Front further encouraged the Lebanese government to invoke Article No. 12 of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701. This would allow the Lebanese authorities to request the redeployment of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) troops from the southern border to other regions, including the Lebanese-Syrian border, to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups into the country.

The calls for international intervention reflect growing frustration among Lebanese Christians and other communities who see Hezbollah’s continued influence as a major impediment to peace and stability in Lebanon.