The leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, stated Thursday evening in a speech that the reconstruction of Lebanon, following the Israeli strikes during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the south of the country, cannot happen without the support of Arab countries and the international community. He praised this as a return to “authentic Arab relations,” following President Joseph Aoun's visit to Riyadh.

During an iftar held at the party's headquarters in Maarab, attended by ambassadors from Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as other Arab countries, MPs, religious leaders and several ministers, Geagea addressed the issue of Lebanon's reconstruction. He emphasized that it constitutes "a national duty," while specifying that its realization requires "support" from Arab and Western countries, according to a statement relayed by the National News Agency (NNA).

However, Geagea specified that these countries will only extend a hand on the "condition" of establishing a state holding the "monopoly" on arms, including the collection of those qualified as "illegal," with "a Lebanese state that holds the exclusive power to decide on war and peace," complete sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory with effective control of its northern, eastern and southern borders. In this context, the head of the LF asked the Lebanese Army to "collect all illegal weapons" and to "dismantle illegal military and security infrastructures throughout the Lebanese territory," insisting on the necessity to carry out these actions within a "specific and precise timeframe."

Implementation of resolutions 1559, 1680 and 1701

In his speech, Geagea stated that "the first mission" of Nawaf Salam's government would be to "implement" the commitments mentioned in the inauguration speech of President Joseph Aoun, as well as in the ministerial statement of the head of government, which obtained the confidence of Parliament, notably "the implementation of the cease-fire agreement, international resolutions 1559, 1680 and 1701, and respect of the principles of the Taif Agreement."

Discussing the situation in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army maintains positions on five strategic sites despite the expiration of the Feb. 18 deadline for a full troop withdrawal, Geagea stressed that the presence of Israel on "even a grain of sand of Lebanese territory is absolutely unacceptable." However, he believed it would be impossible to fight against this occupation and eliminate it without the support of Lebanon's "friends" in the Arab world and on the international stage, insisting on using political force and diplomatic means to achieve a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. In this sense, he indicated that "where military force has failed, political force can accomplish much for the Palestinian cause; and this also applies to Lebanon," alluding to the "armed resistance" failure of Hezbollah against Israel.

'Return to authentic Arab relations'

After "vain attempts over the past decades to remove Lebanon from the Arab fold and drag it into non-Arab axes," the country has now returned to its "authentic Arab relations," Geagea rejoiced, just days after the official visit of the Lebanese head of state to Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and participated in the extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo.

These steps indeed mark an important sign of warming Lebanese-Saudi relations, long cooled by tensions related to Iran and Hezbollah's influence.

The LF leader also asserted that there will be neither stability nor security in Lebanon until "all Lebanese components feel secure in their existence, presence and specificities," while calling for genuine partnership and balanced diversity to ensure the country's balance.