The Commander in chief of the Lebanese Army, Joseph Aoun. (Credit: Lebanese Army's website)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc issued a statement Thursday emphasizing the need to "find an appropriate solution to avoid a leadership vacuum in the army, as its term is approaching."
The two major Christian parties — the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces — are at odds over the fate of Lebanese Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun, whose term expires on Jan. 10, 2024.
The Lebanese Forces are pushing for his retention in the position, while the Free Patriotic Movement is eager to remove him as he is considered one of the potential candidates for the presidency of the Republic.
Hezbollah's statement also calls for "accelerating the presidential election" after over a year of vacancy and mentions "the risks of disruption in the Higher Judicial Council due to the continuous decrease in its members."
Hezbollah's parliamentary wing also urged the US administration to "control the planned aggression of the Zionist enemy" in Gaza and Lebanon.
The statement emphasized that "Zionist aggression on Gaza and Lebanon must cease immediately." Hezbollah's bloc denounced "war crimes and genocide committed by the Zionist entity against Gaza and its people," as well as "deliberate attacks on Lebanon and the massacres of civilians, children, and rescuers, in violation of all established rules."
Hezbollah issued the statement ahead of the party's "Martyrs' Day" celebration on Nov. 11, during which Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is expected to speak.