Geagea says Berri, Mikati must ask 'militants' to withdraw from border

As Israel and Hezbollah trade near-daily cross-border fire in a relatively contained tit-for-tat fire, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea considers that Hezbollah is taking the decision of war, bypassing the state.

After admitting that the opposition cannot do anything about it in an interview in L'Orient Le-Jour, Geagea called on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to ask all "militants" to withdraw from the border, where daily clashes are taking place.

In a statement he posted Wednesday on the X platform, Geagea asked whether Berri and Mikati are serious about Lebanon's commitment to the U.N. resolutions.

"Both Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati have stated many times that Lebanon respects international legitimacy resolutions, especially Resolution 1701," he said, adding that "if their stance is serious, then they should ask the Lebanese army to deploy in the area where international forces operate, ank call on the other militants, whether Lebanese or Palestinian, to withdraw from the area."

Hezbollah's al-Manar reporter Ali Shoeib responded on X, accusing Geagea of political immaturity, treason and indifference about the situation in southern Lebanon.

"One simple piece of evidence of the stupidity and political immaturity of Samir Geagea is his request for the withdrawal of what he called 'militants' from the south," Shoeib said.

"The 'militants', Samir, are the sons, men, and youth who took up arms to defend their villages and towns," he added.

On Thursday, Geagea said that the region will find no peace before two states are created.

The war on Gaza, the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both Palestinians and Israel, started after a Hamas’ surprise rampage on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.

At least 6,546 Palestinians have been killed and 17,439 others wounded. In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids following.

In Lebanon's border skirmishes, more than 50 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, mostly combatants but including four civilians, one of them Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah.