Geagea says Hezbollah must disarm first for Israel to withdraw

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized Wednesday Hezbollah's officials for stating that the group will not hand over its arms as long as Israeli troops are in South Lebanon.

Hezbollah's chief Sheikh Naim Qassem -- and other Hezbollah officials -- had said that Israel must completely withdraw first and stop its violations, otherwise Hezbollah "will not let anyone disarm" it.

President Joseph Aoun said last week he hopes to restrict arms to the state in 2025 through "dialogue" with Hezbollah. "Does anyone expect us to discuss a national defense strategy as warplanes fly over our heads and there is occupation in south Lebanon," Qassem responded in a televised speech. "These are not discussions, this is surrender," he said.

Geagea considered that Hezbollah's statements would affect Lebanon's credibility and "damage its image" as Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south under a November ceasefire truce.

But under that truce, Israel was also meant to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon. Despite the deal, its troops remained at five south Lebanon positions that they deem "strategic", as several experts said Israel's ongoing troop presence along the border played into Hezbollah's hands. Israel has also continued to carry out near-daily strikes against Lebanon, saying it is targeting members of Hezbollah who are breaching the truce agreement.

According to Geagea, Hezbollah should first abide by the ceasefire agreement, and after that Israel would withdraw and stop its strikes and Lebanon would be able to "rebuild the state."

"We cannot accept that Lebanon's credibility and image be further damaged by reneging on the ceasefire agreement," Geagea said, calling on the new government and administration to remind Hezbollah's officials of their previous commitments.

Hezbollah was left badly weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, beginning with the group's campaign of rocket fire at its arch-foe in support of ally Hamas, and culminating in a major Israeli bombing campaign that killed many Hezbollah commanders including the group's longtime leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.