Lebanese Forces Head Samir Geagea stresses imperative to disarm Hezbollah during LBCI interview

MAARAB, Lebanon — During an interview on LBCI’s Dialogue of the Stage with journalist Rula Haddad, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea stressed that no single faction should impose its will on others in Lebanon. His remarks were a pointed critique of Hezbollah, which he described as an “Iranian militia.”

Geagea dismissed recent statements by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem as detached from reality, asserting that Qassem appeared to be “theorizing without understanding the current events or the balance of power.” He argued that Hezbollah’s armed presence undermines efforts to consolidate arms under the state’s authority, highlighting the hesitancy of some parties to address this issue decisively.

“The state must assert its sovereignty and take the final decision on this matter,” Geagea stated. He praised President Joseph Aoun’s firm stance on resolving the weapons issue and thanked Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for advocating dialogue on disarmament and de-escalation.

Geagea expressed concern that Lebanon’s progress remains paralyzed due to the persistence of illegal arms. He emphasized that reconstruction, economic recovery, and financial reforms cannot move forward until weapons are handed over to state authorities. “No one will engage with the Lebanese state under these conditions,” he warned.

Touching on regional and international implications, Geagea called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and urged a return to normalcy, free from the influence of militias. He emphasized that Lebanon’s leadership must prioritize the interests of the Lebanese people above all else.

The Lebanese Forces leader also addressed various domestic and regional issues, including the agreement to withdraw Palestinian weapons from refugee camps in Lebanon, ongoing corruption concerns, municipal elections, regional normalization efforts with Israel, and developments in Syria.

Geagea’s remarks underscore his party’s firm stance on restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarming militias, and advancing much-needed reforms to stabilize the country.