LF Backs State Authority and Exclusive Right to Bear Arms
A joint meeting of the parliamentary and ministerial members of the Strong Republic bloc and the executive committee of the Lebanese Forces, chaired by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, stressed that the ultimate national goal since the end of Lebanon’s civil war has been the establishment of a sovereign state that alone controls weapons, secures the borders, and holds exclusive authority over decisions of war and peace.
The participants emphasized that Lebanon’s central cause remains restoring the country as a free, sovereign, and independent state rather than an arena for regional conflicts.
Regarding the recent U.S.-Iran agreement, they said it concerns Washington and Tehran and does not directly affect Lebanon, arguing that any ceasefire provisions related to the region do not automatically translate into an end to hostilities on the Lebanese front.
The statement stressed that Lebanon’s need is not merely a ceasefire, but a permanent end to recurring wars through the dismantling of all illegal armed groups, particularly Hezbollah.
The participants praised recent Lebanese government decisions aimed at extending state authority across all Lebanese territory, including measures related to Hezbollah’s weapons and military structures, and called for their full implementation, especially during any ceasefire phase.
They argued that the camp that promoted the resistance narrative was responsible for drawing Lebanon into repeated conflicts and missing historic opportunities to consolidate state sovereignty following Israel’s withdrawal in 2000 and Syria’s withdrawal in 2005.
The meeting reaffirmed support for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in their diplomatic and negotiating efforts, describing them as the only path toward ending wars and rebuilding a functioning state.
The statement concluded that Lebanon now has a historic opportunity to restore full state authority and that the Lebanese people’s foremost demand is to close the chapter of wars permanently. According to the participants, this can only be achieved through a state that exclusively holds arms, sovereignty, and decision-making power throughout Lebanese territory.
