Hezbollah's refusal to surrender its weapons prompted the leader of Lebanon's Christian Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, to warn Tuesday morning that "he cannot predict whether the approaching summer will prove hot in terms of large-scale Israeli military operations or broader armed escalation, but what remains certain is that continuing on the current path will lead to a difficult summer."
Speaking to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Geagea elaborated that "the ceasefire agreement concluded in November 2024 stipulates that all weapons must be restricted to state institutions. We were given a 120-day deadline for implementation. The agreement explicitly identified which mechanisms may bear arms, ranging from the army to municipal security forces."
The politician who has consistently opposed Hezbollah stressed that "certain parties ignore these provisions and focus instead on discussing Israeli aggression and military presence at various locations and regions. While we currently lack the capacity to defeat this enemy, we can consolidate our sources of strength to advance that goal." He argued, "We now witness global pressure on Israel to halt the Gaza war, yet hear nothing about its actions in Lebanon."
He continued, "We must consolidate our sources of strength to overcome Israel. We possess external allies, beginning with our relationships with Gulf nations headed by Saudi Arabia, extending to Western countries led by the United States." He claimed, "through their assistance, we can halt Israeli attacks, expel them from our territory, and restore normalcy to Lebanon."
He maintained, "Our focus remains constantly diverted by discussions about Israel, while we fail to take necessary action and squander every opportunity." He also rejected arguments that efforts to disarm Hezbollah without the organization's agreement might trigger civil war.
"I categorically reject this reasoning. President Joseph Aoun secured election through an overwhelming majority, while the government obtained parliamentary confidence twice. These institutions must determine appropriate action rather than fabricating justifications. The government must convene and resolve to strip all armed organizations of their weapons within one, two, or four months, then direct the army to execute this decision. We must begin this process," Geagea declared.
