The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil (center), at the launch of the "Protection of Lebanon" initiative, at Beirut's Phoenicia Hotel on July 30, 2026. (Photo: NNA)
BEIRUT — The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM, Aounist), Gebran Bassil, launched Thursday a new political initiative entitled "Protection of Lebanon," presented as a "national objective" aimed at bringing Lebanese together around "Lebanese constants that preserve our unity" and reaffirming that "the state is our choice."
The launch of this initiative took place during a gathering organized at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, attended by representatives of several parliamentary blocs and political figures.
The document presented on this occasion highlights several principles, notably the strengthening of the state, Lebanon's sovereignty, the monopoly of arms by official institutions, the rejection of foreign interference, as well as the fight against all forms of internal discord. The stated goal is to "affirm our attachment to Lebanese constants that preserve our unity, bring us together within our homeland, and confirm that the state is our choice."
Bassil insisted that this initiative was neither "a front" nor a new political structure, but a framework aimed at bringing participants together around a set of common principles. He called for "a Lebanon that is our only axis," away from regional rivalries, while advocating for "everything that can liberate our territory," whether through tripartite negotiations or a bilateral agreement "that does not compromise our independence."
The proposed roadmap notably includes the end of the Israeli occupation, the return of residents of southern Lebanon to their homes, the reconstruction of areas affected by war, the release of prisoners, the monopoly of arms by the state, the adoption of a national defense strategy, the strengthening of the Lebanese army, as well as Lebanon's neutrality with regard to regional axes.
"No one has gained from the collapse of the state," said the Batroun MP, estimating that "no group, no matter its power, can take its place." Describing Lebanon as "a homeland, an idea, and a message based on freedom, diversity, and openness," he called on the Lebanese to "renew their trust in the state" and to make "the Republic the common denominator that transcends all divisions."
According to him, "the state is not the adversary of any component; on the contrary, it is the only guarantee for all." He also asserted that "the choice of the state is not one option among others, but the condition that makes all other national options possible," with the Lebanese army representing "the pillar of the defense of this state." "There is no homeland without a state," he added, insisting that "Lebanon is neither a bargaining chip nor a territory to be ceded."
This initiative comes as Lebanon attempts to recover from the consequences of a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered in the wake of the regional conflict related to Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. Hezbollah, which opened a support front for the Palestinian movement Hamas on Oct. 8, 2023, before clashes with Israel intensified, suffered heavy military and political losses during the war, while the issue of its arsenal remains central to discussions about the country's future.
The move by the FPM leader also comes as his party, which is not participating in the government of Nawaf Salam formed at the beginning of 2025, now sits in opposition and has distanced itself from Hezbollah, its former ally. While Bassil has gradually moved away from Hezbollah in recent years, he was still considering an electoral alliance with it in view of the parliamentary elections initially scheduled for May 2026, before their two-year postponement due to the war.
Iran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources say