The leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, warned that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, is taking Lebanon to dangerous places, noting that the Lebanese authorities, which serve as the parents of the nation, have abandoned Lebanon, leaving it prey to Iran's perilous policies in the region. Geagea accused the "resistance axis" of obstructing the presidential elections, which have been vacant for nearly two years, stating that their priorities lie elsewhere. He revealed serious communications being undertaken by the Lebanese Forces with about 25 deputies who could tilt the balance in Parliament, aiming to convince them to take a clear stance on the elections, expressing a "slow positivity" estimated at around 30 percent.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Geagea anticipated that the situation in southern Lebanon, where confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel are occurring, would escalate further and that Lebanon could face greater tensions than currently witnessed. He lamented the absence of an effective government during these escalations and diplomatic messages, stating that it seemed as if no government existed in Lebanon. He explained that the absence of the legitimate government meant that the country could be taken anywhere, regrettably noting that some are leading Lebanon to the unknown.
Geagea believes that the conflict in southern Lebanon is not solely linked to the Gaza war, saying that the situation has connected Hezbollah to various regions from the Red Sea, through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq, and Syria, ultimately reaching Lebanon. He indicated that this interconnectedness places the country in a precarious position, emphasizing that if the current conditions persist, Lebanon would face a "malicious war of attrition" costing human lives and economic losses, leading to a depletion at all levels. He expressed concern that if escalation increases, the future losses would be unpredictable, ultimately concluding that "Lebanon loses in both cases."
He stressed that those responsible for the country's well-being, namely the government, mainly consisting of members from the resistance axis, are failing to care for Lebanon and are instead taking it to the current situations experienced. Geagea criticized what he described as "official surrender," attributing the state's retreat to the majority of the current government being either aligned or supportive of the resistance axis, asserting they are pleased with the ongoing situation. He stated, "In my view, much of Lebanon is currently falling in the south, and they bear that responsibility. Any destruction that Lebanon experiences later, they will bear responsibility for that."
Geagea warned of the severe risks posed by Secretary-General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah's threats to neighboring Cyprus and the resulting scenarios, emphasizing that the Lebanese people have ceased to react strongly because they are already engulfed in catastrophe. He noted, "There is no catastrophe without a greater one," predicting that the situation is heading toward a larger disaster. He expressed bewilderment at the current attacks on a country like Cyprus, labeling such behavior as reckless and irresponsible, given that Cyprus is the only neighboring country without issues with Lebanon.
From the trajectory of current dialogues, Geagea concluded that there is only one calculation in Lebanon today, centered on what is best for Iran's strategic interests. He stated, "I understand that the Iranians are calculating based on what is best for their interests, which is normal. However, a Lebanese faction (Hezbollah) is dragging all of Lebanon towards what serves Iran’s interests, which is unacceptable."
