The President of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Samy Gemayel, stated in an interview with the American network "CNBC" that "Lebanon has no say regarding the ongoing events as it is a hostage in the hands of Hezbollah, which receives its orders from Iran. Therefore, we are waiting to understand the Iranian strategy in the region to know which direction things will take, and this is a real tragedy, as the Lebanese feel completely powerless regarding their fate; they are prisoners of an armed militia that pursues its interests and has taken control of the country."
In response to a question about the possibility of dragging Lebanon into war, Gemayel pointed out that "Iran's interests come first for Hezbollah, even before Hamas and Gaza. These interests lie in expanding its influence in the region to become a global power. Thus, neither side—Israel nor Hezbollah—wants to escalate the conflict to preserve their gains; Iran does not want to weaken Hezbollah, and Israel does not wish to open a second front on its northern borders. Consequently, we see that events are confined to Lebanon's southern borders until Iran or Israel decides otherwise. At that point, we may witness Lebanon slipping into a war that the Lebanese will pay dearly for, and the only way to prevent this is through pressure exerted by the international community on Iran, as it is the one training and funding Hamas and Hezbollah."
Gemayel noted the "massive risks that will befall Lebanon if it is drawn into war, as amidst the unprecedented crisis it is experiencing, any strike could destroy what remains of the country, making it very difficult to rebuild."
He expressed hope that the international community would heed the concerns raised by the opposition on this front, which were included in a joint statement emphasizing the necessity for the Lebanese government to hold the power to decide on peace and war.
Regarding the role the United States and President Biden could play in preventing the escalation of war and serving the regional interest, the Kataeb Party President identified two objectives that could contribute to that: first, reaching a final resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has lasted for over 75 years, based on international resolutions that acknowledge Palestinians' rights to a state capable of living alongside Israel; and second, putting an end to Iran's funding of its proxies and destabilizing the region. This, he believes, could finally lead the Middle East to peace and prosperity.
