Following their monthly meeting, Syriac Maronite Bishops urge Lebanon to reassert sovereignty and disarm Hezbollah

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — In a statement released on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, following its monthly meeting, the Council of Syriac Maronite Bishops called on the Lebanese government to fully reassert sovereignty across all national territory, stressing that disarming Hezbollah is essential to restoring legitimate state authority. The statement, issued under the leadership of Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, included the participation of the heads of Syriac Maronite monastic orders.

The bishops emphasized that genuine political and security stability in Lebanon can only be achieved by relying on the state and its official institutions. They also urged Lebanese citizens abroad to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections and called for a revision of the current electoral law to ensure fair representation for all citizens.

Addressing domestic concerns, the statement expressed deep alarm over the worsening security situation in the Maameltein–Ghazir area of Jounieh Bay. The bishops called on security forces to strengthen their presence, enforce the rule of law, and hold those responsible for recent violence legally accountable.

Turning to regional issues, the bishops voiced hope for peace and stability in Syria, which they said is crucial to allowing displaced Syrians to return home safely and with dignity.

The Council concluded its message with prayers for peace across Lebanon and the broader region, calling for an end to wars and the lifting of injustice from suffering communities.

This latest statement reflects a noticeably firmer stance by the Syriac Maronite Church on questions of national sovereignty and security. Issued during a politically delicate period, it underscores the Church’s renewed insistence on restoring the Lebanese state as the sole legitimate authority uniting all its citizens.