The arrival of Gebran Bassil at Michel al-Murr Stadium in Nahr al-Mott, north of Beirut, on April 26, 2025. (Credit: tayyar.org)
BEIRUT — Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), delivered a sharp critique on Saturday evening targeting Syrian refugees and migrants in Lebanon, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He described the refugees' continued presence in Lebanon and the policies of the UNHCR as constituting a new "Syrian occupation."
Bassil was speaking at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Syrian military withdrawal from Lebanon, which took place in 2005 after nearly 30 years of Syrian presence. The withdrawal followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Feb.14, 2005, in Beirut, and came under intense international pressure.
Addressing a crowd at the Michel al-Murr Stadium in Nahr al-Mott, north of Beirut, the FPM leader claimed that only his party had initially opposed the Syrian presence in Lebanon. He also argued that the history of the FPM had been "falsified" after the party ended its opposition to Syria following its withdrawal. In 2006, Michel Aoun — the FPM founder, former leader and former president of Lebanon — joined the March 8 camp, aligned with Hezbollah and normalized relations with the Assad regime. The March 8 group stood in opposition to the March 14 camp, which had advocated for the Syrian withdrawal.
"We had always said we would be against Syria when it was in Lebanon, and with it when it was gone," Bassil added.
A 'new form of occupation'
The Batroun MP also argued that Lebanon is facing "a new form of occupation that must be confronted by demanding the withdrawal" of Syrian refugees and migrants. He added that "Lebanon is also under international tutelage through the UNHCR, which decides who should leave or remain," before adding that this is a "new form of tutelage."
According to official estimates, Lebanon currently hosts 1.5 million Syrians, including 755,426 registered refugees with the U.N., who fled their country’s Civil War that began in 2011. The UNHCR and other NGOs provide various services to these refugees, which some political groups view as an "incentive" for them to stay in Lebanon. Many Lebanese political factions argue that the presence of Syrians is a key factor in the country’s ongoing socio-economic crisis and demand their repatriation.
However, the U.N. and human rights organizations oppose any forced departures, insisting that repatriations must be "voluntary." Meanwhile, thousands of Syrian nationals have left Lebanon since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, but their numbers remain a minority, largely due to ongoing insecurity in certain parts of Syria.
However, several days of sectarian violence in Syria beginning on March 6 marked the worst bloodshed since the new power's takeover. Massacres were reported, primarily in the Alawite-dominated coastal region. More than 21,000 people have since fled to Lebanon, according to the United Nations.
'Immediate and unconditional' return
Bassil criticized the Lebanese government for "accepting the concept of conditional voluntary returns" of Syrian refugees, calling it "a national humiliation." The ministerial commission tasked with handling the Syrian refugee issue reiterated on April 16 its call for the "safe and dignified return of displaced persons" to Syria, in line with a preliminary plan that is ready for discussion with Syrian authorities.
"Our demand is clear and firm: an immediate and unconditional return of all displaced Syrians. Just as we liberated Lebanon from the Syrian occupation the first time, we will liberate it again from this occupation disguised as humanitarian action," the FPM leader said.
Denouncing a "violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and identity," he announced that the heart of the Aounist formation's "battle" against Syrian migrants would take place in the municipalities, whose councils must be renewed for the first time in nine years with elections scheduled for May. "We will support any municipality whose program aims to defend the existence of the Lebanese and their livelihood, and which will prevent Syrian displaced persons from taking the bread of the Lebanese," he stated.
Bassil condemned what he called a "violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and identity" and announced that the heart of his party’s "battle" against Syrian migrants would take place in the municipalities. These councils, whose members will be elected for the first time in nine years in May, are expected to play a key role in addressing the issue. "We will support any municipality whose program aims to defend the existence of the Lebanese people and their livelihoods, and which will prevent Syrian displaced persons from taking the bread of the Lebanese," he stated.
