Lebanese Forces condemn Hezbollah's propaganda on South Lebanon events

The Lebanese Forces (LF) issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, criticizing Hezbollah's portrayal of recent events in South Lebanon as a "grand and immense victory for the so-called resistance." 

The LF accused Hezbollah of distorting reality through "Hollywood-style communication" orchestrated by its deputies and media outlets. The statement comes as tensions rise following Israeli attacks that killed 22 people on Sunday and amid ongoing efforts by displaced Lebanese to return to their villages occupied by Israel.

The LF refuted Hezbollah’s claims of a "victory" in the South, asserting that Israel’s withdrawal from certain villages was a decision made unilaterally.

"Israel has not withdrawn from any village it did not decide to evacuate. The villages entered by residents are those that Israel already intended to leave," the LF declared in their statement.

The party accused Hezbollah of deliberately sacrificing 22 fighters (a figure now updated to 24 for Sunday alone) to assert its relevance, instead of allowing the Lebanese Army to oversee the return of displaced residents. 

This critique follows a recent interview given by LF leader Samir Geagea and precedes a speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, scheduled for Monday evening.

Since Sunday, hundreds of Lebanese have attempted to return to villages occupied by Israel, which extended its presence beyond the initial 60-day ceasefire period that began on November 27. The ceasefire, now extended until February 18, was approved by both the Israeli and Lebanese governments.

Hezbollah, along with its ally Amal, has lauded the "courage and sacrifices" of southern residents. However, the LF has slammed the outcomes of Hezbollah's 13-month conflict with Israel.

The LF has urged the Lebanese government to instruct the Lebanese Army to take full control of organizing the return of displaced residents in a manner that ensures their safety.

The LF dismissed Hezbollah's attempts to position the people of South Lebanon as the embodiment of "resistance," emphasizing that:

In their statement, the LF accused Hezbollah of using the recent events to reclaim its image as a defender of Lebanon, stating:

"This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to revive a party that has inflicted tremendous losses on the Lebanese people, especially in the South."

The LF reiterated that any security and military efforts must be led by the state, not armed factions, to prevent further loss of life and destruction.

Provocative Displays in Sensitive Areas

The Lebanese Army announced in a statement on Monday that it had deployed patrols and "arrested several individuals while pursuing others involved" following motorized parades by supporters of the Shiite political alliance Hezbollah-Amal in Christian neighborhoods of Beirut the previous evening.

On Sunday night, Hezbollah-Amal supporters rode through predominantly Christian areas of Beirut on motorbikes, waving weapons, partisan flags, and chanting provocative slogans. 

The parades passed through neighborhoods typically opposed to the Shiite alliance, including Furn el-Chebbak, Aïn el-Remmané, the Gouraud Street area in Gemmayzé, and Hazmieh, according to videos circulated on social media.

The demonstrators claimed to be celebrating the return of displaced residents to South Lebanon, even as the region mourned 22 victims killed the same day by Israeli gunfire.

In response to the incident, the Lebanese Army moved swiftly to restore order, deploying patrols in the affected areas and arresting individuals involved in the demonstrations. The army confirmed it was continuing to pursue others responsible for the provocative actions.