Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Credit: provided by LF)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday called for the Lebanese army to fully take charge of the Lebanese southern borders which have experienced fierce battles between Hezbollah and Israel since the beginning of the war on Gaza after the al-Aqsa Flood operation on Oct. 7.
"If at the beginning of the incidents in Gaza, the Lebanese army really spread in the south...the Lebanese army is present in the south but it is not spread and has no control with the help of UNIFIL the stream of events would have been different," Geagea said in a TV interview with This is Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in a fierce battle since Oct. 8 which is damaging many southern border villages' infrastructure and is taking the lives of many Hezbollah fighters and civilians.
"The incidents in Gaza would have affected Lebanon but it is up to the Lebanese government which is not present to react to it," Geagea also said.
"Why would tens of thousands of Lebanese have to be displaced? Because Hezbollah is putting itself upfront, why wouldn't the army be in charge and all of us would take responsibility," Geagea added.
The 1701 resolution which ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 gave authority to UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to take charge of the south border village however it appears to be that Hezbollah operates freely in that zone.
Geagea also criticized Hezbollah for giving Hamas leaders like Saleh al-Arouri, who was assassinated last week in a drone attack, protection in the Lebanese southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.
"It is known that Israel has been following Hamas leaders everywhere so why put the suburbs in Beirut?" Geagea also said.