Bassil warns of Israeli escalation
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil warned of mounting threats to Lebanon and the region, urging Hezbollah to refrain from entering another war and stressing the need to prevent military escalation and internal conflict.
In an interview with LBCI, Bassil cautioned against further Israeli aggression and praised the Lebanese Army’s role in preserving national stability, warning that undermining the military could trigger civil strife.
He called for meaningful national dialogue to establish guarantees for Lebanon’s security and sovereignty, while proposing an international force mandated by the UN Security Council to secure Israeli withdrawal, support Lebanese Army deployment and restore exclusive state control over weapons.
Addressing the Dahr el-Baidar explosives case, Bassil warned against political exploitation and escalating tensions, questioning the need for referral to the Judicial Council.
He also criticized the government’s economic policies, taxation, public-sector appointments and electricity management, accusing it of increasing financial burdens on citizens.
Bassil advocated full implementation of the Taif Agreement, political decentralization, Lebanon’s neutrality from regional conflicts and a new economic model.
He concluded that Lebanon must prioritize national unity, institutional reform and political dialogue over confrontation.
