USUP President Ibrahim Mrad: Visit of US Ambassador Barrack to Lebanon comes at critical juncture

BEIRUT — President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) Ibrahim Mrad described the recent visit of US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack to Lebanon as arriving at a pivotal and delicate moment amid the country’s deepening political and economic crisis.

In a public statement posted to his official Facebook page, Mrad said the visit should serve as a wake-up call to Lebanon’s ruling authorities, urging them to move from political stagnation to decisive action. “It’s time to move from paralysis to partnership with the international community,” he wrote, emphasizing that continued inaction would only compound Lebanon’s isolation and decline.

Mrad warned that true stability in Lebanon remains elusive as long as the state remains “hijacked” by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that wields significant political and military influence. He asserted that national decision-making continues to be subordinated to Tehran’s regional agenda.

With the presidency now filled after a prolonged vacancy, Mrad argued that this period must become a springboard for restoring Lebanon’s state institutions, rather than legitimizing further entrenchment of Hezbollah’s influence. “Persisting with policies that paralyze the state while preserving illegal weapons is a recipe for deeper collapse,” he said.

Mrad called on the Lebanese government to stop waiting for the outcome of regional conflicts — particularly the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran — and instead engage in immediate, responsible cooperation with the international community, led by the United States. Such cooperation, he argued, is essential for enacting the political, economic, and sovereign reforms that could rescue the country.

He also urged the international community not to abandon Lebanon to what he described as “the calculations of officials aligned with the Iranian axis,” warning that doing so would risk pulling the country back into what he termed the “axis of evil,” with potential repercussions for regional stability.

Mrad reiterated the need to implement international resolutions — particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon — as a necessary step to rebuild the state and restore full sovereignty.

He concluded with an appeal to Lebanon’s sovereign and national forces to unite around a comprehensive rescue plan, one that restores the dignity of the Lebanese people and ends the era of “illegitimate weapons” that have undermined the republic and its institutions.