Lebanese Forces leader demands disbanding of Hezbollah’s military wing

The leader of Lebanon’s Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, has strongly criticized Hezbollah, calling its secretary-general Naim Qassem “an outlaw” and urging the Lebanese government to dissolve the group’s military and security wing.

Speaking Thursday evening on Lebanon’s MTV television channel, Geagea reacted to recent remarks by Qassem in which he said Hezbollah was not neutral in a potential conflict involving Iran and the United States. Geagea described the statements as “unacceptable,” accusing Hezbollah of illegally monopolizing decisions of war and peace and violating Lebanon’s constitution.

Geagea warned that Hezbollah had no right to drag Lebanon into another war, arguing that such a move would be criminal toward both its own community and the country as a whole. 

He also claimed that Hezbollah’s dominance had set Lebanon back “forty years” and suggested that major regional changes involving Iran could have a positive impact on Lebanon.

Earlier this year, the Lebanese army announced it had dismantled Hezbollah’s weapons south of the Litani River, near the Israeli border, but the group has refused to hand over its arms north of the river. 

Geagea said the army’s efforts were insufficient and stressed that Hezbollah’s disarmament was a political decision, not a military one.

Calling for an end to what he described as minority rule over the majority, Geagea said he now shares the same objective as President Joseph Aoun, though he criticized the pace of reforms. 

He formally urged the Council of Ministers to dissolve Hezbollah’s armed wing, insisting that restoring the state’s exclusive authority over weapons was essential for Lebanon’s future.