Christian Front Welcomes Expulsion of Hezbollah-Affiliated Employees from Beirut Airport

ACHRAFIEH, BEIRUT – In a pointed statement reflective of Lebanon’s deep sectarian and political fissures, the Christian Front in Lebanon welcomed the government’s recent expulsion of several Hezbollah-linked employees from Rafic Hariri International Airport, following their conviction on corruption-related charges. The Front, which convened at its headquarters in Beirut’s Achrafieh district for its regular monthly session, praised the move as “an overdue corrective step” and accused the dismissed employees of years of unchecked criminal activity — including smuggling goods, cash, jewelry, and weapons — under the cover of previous political protection. 

“These individuals operated with impunity, enabling illegal networks and surveilling incoming and outgoing travelers, all with the silent consent of the old security establishment,” the statement declared. 

The Christian Front said the expulsions should be only the beginning, and it renewed a series of longstanding demands aimed at reshaping the Lebanese justice and security systems. Chief among them is a call to end the jurisdiction of the military court over civilian cases — a legacy of Lebanon’s security-first governance — and to restrict it exclusively to matters involving military personnel. 

The Front also appealed directly to Syriac Maronite President Joseph Aoun, asking him to personally address what it described as systematic mistreatment of returning Lebanese expatriates — particularly Christians — upon arrival at the airport. The statement warned that such practices deter diaspora engagement, despite official appeals for foreign investment and tourism to lift Lebanon from its prolonged economic crisis.

The Christian Front concluded by urging the new government to dismantle Lebanon’s “exceptional courts,” beginning with the military tribunal, and to purge the judiciary and security forces of what it called “the remnants of Hezbollah’s militia apparatus and the legacy of Syrian occupation.” The statement culminated in a bold call for Lebanon to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, blaming Tehran for sowing instability in Lebanon through its backing of Hezbollah.

The Christian Front: A Coalition Voice for Lebanon’s Christians 

The Christian Front is not a traditional political party but rather a unifying advocacy platform and strategic voice for Lebanon’s diverse Christian communities — with the Syriac Maronites forming the largest component. Emerging in recent years as a response to what its members perceive as growing threats to Christian presence and sovereignty in Lebanon, the Front blends nationalist, federalist, and reformist agendas into a single, coordinated structure.

It is composed of a number of historically and ideologically distinct organizations, including the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP), Guardians of the Cedars Party – Movement of Lebanese Nationalism (MLN), World Maronite Union (WMU), al-Mashriq Party, Syriac Maronite Union-Tur Levnon, Lebanese Federal Gathering, Federal Lebanon, Assyrian League, General Maronite Council (GMC), and the Majd (Glory) Movement.

Although mainstream Christian parties like the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb Party are not formal members of the Front, representatives from both are known to attend meetings in a personal capacity, reflecting the Front’s growing influence across ideological lines.

Ibrahim Mrad, the President of the USUP, serves as the Christian Front’s Secretary General. Under Mrad’s guidance, the Front has become increasingly vocal in public discourse, calling for a return to Lebanese sovereignty, accountability in governance, and the protection of civil rights within a weakened state framework.

With its latest statement, the Christian Front is positioning itself not only as a defender of Lebanon’s Christian identity, but also as a stakeholder in national reform — one willing to challenge entrenched powers, call out foreign interference, and demand a recalibration of Lebanon’s balance of power.