LF says Hezbollah 'disavowing' ceasefire agreement

The Lebanese Forces accused Hezbollah Monday of contradicting the stances of Lebanon's new president and prime minister by refusing to be disarmed, "disavowing the ceasefire agreement."

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem had said the group’s weapons should be part of a national defense strategy that is discussed in a national dialogue and warned that no Lebanese side should try to take advantage of the Israel war to make gains internally.

He warned that Hezbollah’s patience "should not be tested", accusing Israel of violating the truce "hundreds of times" since it went into effect on Nov. 27.

The LF party said in a statement that Qassem's remarks on the resistance contradict with the stances of President Joseph Aoun and PM-designate Nawaf Salam and represent a "blatant disavowal" of the ceasefire agreement. He said Qassem's statement would block the way to Arab and international support for Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon have been calling for the disarmament of the group saying only Lebanese state institutions should have weapons, and Aoun and Salam vowed in their fist speeches to extend state authority over all Lebanese soil.

The LF said the ceasefire does not only require Hezbollah to pull its forces north of the Litani River "as Qassem falsely claimed" but across all Lebanon starting from al-Litani.

"Sheikh Naim’s remarks belong to an era that has ended," the statement added.