Kataeb welcomes Lebanon's pursuit of 'diplomatic route'

The Kataeb party on Tuesday welcomed “the statement issued after the meeting of the three presidents at the presidential palace in Baabda, following the expiration of the cease-fire deadline with Israel, and the official position emphasizing reliance on diplomatic methods only to ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Lebanese territory.”

The party was referring to a meeting held Tuesday at Baabda Palace between President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to denounce Israel’s incomplete withdrawal from South Lebanon. Israeli troops remained in five elevated positions on Lebanese territory, defying the cease-fire conditions adopted on Nov. 27, 2024. The three Lebanese officials, however, reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy, citing a complaint to the U.N. Security Council and ruling out armed resistance against Israeli forces.

The Kataeb party also said that the war, which began when Hezbollah opened a support front for Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, should result in the party abandoning the armed struggle. “While Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem emphasized (in his latest speech) the state’s responsibility for postwar reconstruction, Hezbollah, whose reckless adventure caused this destruction, should take responsibility by immediately handing over its weapons to the state and ceasing to use Lebanon as a platform for its missiles so that reconstruction can be permanent,” the party said in a statement.

The Kataeb also called on Hezbollah “to stop using the airport road as a pressure card,” condemning acts of vandalism by some of its supporters. Last weekend, protests along the road escalated into violence after Lebanon refused landing permits for two Iranian planes. Some individuals set fire to a UNIFIL vehicle and injured the mission’s deputy commander. The Iranian airline flights were canceled following Israeli threats to bomb the airport, claiming they were being used to transfer funds to Hezbollah.