Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills belong to Syria, says Walid Jumblatt

Prominent Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt praised the role of the Lebanese Army and security forces during the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which lasted from October 8, 2023, to the November 27, 2024, ceasefire.

In an interview with Al-Anba', Jumblatt emphasized that their performance invalidated the "self-security" arguments that previously justified non-state actors holding arms.

He expressed his expectation that "the Lebanese state will have the exclusive monopoly on weapons and decisions regarding war and peace."

On the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills

Addressing the issue of border disputes, Jumblatt commented on the contested regions of the Shebaa Farms and the Kfarchouba Hills, long claimed by Lebanon but also considered occupied Syrian territories under international law.

Citing United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 adopted in 1967, Jumblatt asserted:
"The Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills are in reality Syrian territories under occupation. They will only become Lebanese once the borders between Lebanon and Syria are officially delineated. Until then, these areas are not Lebanese, and Resolution 242 does not apply to Lebanon."

Jumblatt’s statements underline the importance of consolidating the state's authority over armed groups and decision-making in matters of national security. His comments also touch on the sensitive issue of border demarcation with Syria, which has implications for Lebanon's territorial sovereignty and international relations.

The remarks reflect ongoing debates within Lebanon about the role of non-state actors like Hezbollah, the state’s authority, and unresolved territorial disputes that complicate regional dynamics.