The leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, during a party dinner in Maarab. (Credit: NNA)
The head of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, on Monday, blamed the caretaker government of Najib Mikati and Hezbollah and its allies responsible for the "tragic" events that occurred Sunday in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army announced it will remain in southern Lebanon, violating the initial 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of its army set by the cease-fire agreement of Nov. 26 between Hezbollah and Israel.
Before the announcement of a 22-day extension formalized on Sunday night, many Lebanese decided on Sunday to return to their home towns along the border, ignoring Israeli warnings. At least 22 people were killed (including a Lebanese Army soldier) and 125 injured by Israeli fire that day.
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement publicly supported and encouraged the approach of the residents in statements issued by the parties. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also supported this direction in a statement, while his government remained on the sidelines.
"Once again, the current government demonstrates its total absence, while the Moumanaa camp [Hezbollah and its allies] proves that it pays no heed to the lives of citizens," Geagea said in an interview with the daily Nidaa al-Watan.
'Divert attention'
"It was incumbent on the current government, by virtue of its responsibilities, to inform the residents of villages and localities of the areas that the Israeli army plans to evacuate and those it intends to keep under its control. Instead, it allowed certain parties to exploit the situation for partisan purposes, resulting in a tragic toll," he continued.
To him, Hezbollah "does not hesitate to orchestrate daily events aimed at diverting attention from the tragedies it caused, whether in terms of human or material losses, with the aim of maintaining a deceptive media presence."
"This government, which remains responsible while awaiting [a new one formed by the designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam] to be fully operational, should have ordered the Lebanese Army to organize the entry of citizens into secured villages and given it clear instructions to prohibit access to areas still occupied by the Israeli army. The lives of citizens are the responsibility of the Lebanese government, not Israel," he added.
The head of the LF accused the Moumanaa camp of "exploiting this vacuum" pushing "citizens towards certain danger, without caring for those who would be killed or injured," branding it as "reckless" for "sending more than 20 citizens to a certain death."
"It is imperative that the current government regain control to protect citizens and organize their return where possible, while firmly opposing parties pushing them to death," he said.
He finally called on the government to communicate with the countries guaranteeing the cease-fire agreement, particularly the United States and France, "to discuss the conditions for withdrawal."
"There is only the army, the people and the state. Some are trying to exploit the period before the formation of the new government to rehash past equations that no longer have a place in this new promising phase preparing for Lebanon," he concluded.
Mikati's government has been caretaker since the legislative elections of May 2022. It is to be replaced by one formed by Salam. The former judge of the International Court of Justice was appointed in the days following the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanese president, which ended more than two years of vacancy.
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