Christian Front in Lebanon calls for end to ‘Resistance and Liberation Day’ celebrations citing Hezbollah’s grip on state

BEIRUT — The Christian Front of Lebanon, a coalition of Christian political parties and civil society organization, called for the cancellation of the annual national holiday known as “Resistance and Liberation Day,” describing it as a symbol of Hezbollah’s increasing dominance over the state. 

In a statement released following its weekly meeting in Beirut’s Achrafieh district, the Christian Front warned that Lebanon risks falling further into a “trap of stalling, maneuvering, and political bargaining” orchestrated by Hezbollah. The group accused the Iran-backed militia of using ongoing negotiations with the government to sidestep its obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559, which call for the disarmament of all militias and the reinforcement of state sovereignty. 

“Hezbollah’s actions do not serve the goals of national unity or sovereignty but rather advance a parallel agenda aimed at imposing a new political and security reality through the threat of arms,” the statement said. “This undermines the legitimacy of the Lebanese state and jeopardizes the cohesion of its political system.” 

The Christian Front also voiced concern over the government’s inability to address what it described as Hezbollah’s repeated violations. The group cited incidents such as the obstruction of UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon and inflammatory chants targeting Prime Minister Najib Mikati during a public event in Beirut. In both instances, the coalition noted, no arrests were made, and no legal actions were taken. 

“This persistent inaction reflects a dangerous erosion of state authority,” the statement continued.

The group reserved its harshest criticism for the state’s continued observance of 25 May — commemorating the Israeli military’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 — as a national holiday. While widely celebrated as a victory for Hezbollah’s armed resistance, the Christian Front argued that the withdrawal was the result of “regional understandings” involving Iran, Israel, and the Syrian regime, rather than a genuine act of liberation. 

“The so-called resistance ensured the security of the southern border and maintained calm for Israel under Iranian-Israeli arrangements, with political and security backing from the Assad regime,” the group alleged. “This was not liberation, it was merely the substitution of one form of occupation for another.” 

Instead, the bloc proposed recognizing 26 April — the anniversary of the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon in 2005 — as a more fitting national holiday. They described this date as commemorating the true restoration of Lebanese sovereignty. 

In a broader geopolitical context, the statement welcomed the recent high-level meeting between US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Syrian opposition’s transitional leader. The Christian Front described the meeting as “a wake-up call from a long slumber,” lauding it as a harbinger of a new Middle Eastern order shaped by American and Gulf influence. 

In conclusion, the group urged Lebanon to adopt a more “realistic and pragmatic” approach to its future. This includes disarming Hezbollah, signing a peace agreement with Israel based on the 1949 armistice, and actively participating in regional and international cooperation initiatives. 

“If Lebanon is to avoid becoming a marginalized enclave in the new Middle East,” the statement warned, “it must act in its own best interest—one defined by sovereignty, peace, and integration, not armed dependency.”