Lebanon: Questions Raised over FPM’s Strategic Alliance with Hezbollah

Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (L) shakes hands with Christian leader Michel Aoun during a news conference in Beirut, Feb. 6, 2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (L) shakes hands with Christian leader Michel Aoun during a news conference in Beirut, Feb. 6, 2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
TT
20

Lebanon: Questions Raised over FPM’s Strategic Alliance with Hezbollah

Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (L) shakes hands with Christian leader Michel Aoun during a news conference in Beirut, Feb. 6, 2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (L) shakes hands with Christian leader Michel Aoun during a news conference in Beirut, Feb. 6, 2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The relationship between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) has once again raised questions, with striking statements by the head of the FPM, MP Gebran Bassil, who said that the Mar Mikhael agreement signed by Lebanese President Michel Aoun with the party’s secretary general in 2006 “succeeded in preventing sedition but failed to build a nation.”

In recent media comments, Bassil announced that the presence of arms outside the authority of the Lebanese Army “is not normal, but an exceptional situation that must not continue.”

His remarks came following leaked information about differences between him and the representatives of the Shiite duo – Amal Movement and Hezbollah – over the formation of a new government.

Sources close to Hezbollah refused to comment on Bassil’s words.

“It is not the first time that Bassil launches such positions and it will not be the last; but our policy in dealing with our allies is not to comment in the media, but during our private meetings, if any,” the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

On the other hand, FPM sources denied disputes between the movement and Hezbollah, saying Bassil had already spoken about the failures and the achievements of the Mar Mikhael agreement.

The sources explained that Bassil admitted that the presence of weapons outside the framework of the Lebanese army was not normal, “but at the same time he stressed that (Hezbollah)’s arms have protected Lebanon.”

“Discussing the defense strategy today is not a priority in light of all the economic, political and social crises that Lebanon is suffering from,” they added.

In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, political analyst Qassem Kassir said that the head of the FPM “is trying to preserve all political options internally and externally.”

“Through his declared positions, Bassil wants to show that he is keen on his relationship with the party, but at the same time he puts forward new ideas that may open new opportunities for him.”

In response to a question about the party’s position on Bassil’s approach, Kassir said: “The party is keen on maintaining a good relationship with the FPM and does not want to pressure it at the moment.”

On the other hand, Lebanese Forces MP Wehbi Qatisha described Bassil’s words as “Hollywood stances.”

“When Bassil’s popularity erodes due to the alliance with Hezbollah - as we head towards the parliamentary elections - he resorts to such positions, which do not reflect his real stance,” Qatisha said.

“He is allied with the party but wants to send a message to his supporters to tell them that there are differences [with Hezbollah]. This is not true,” he added.



Iran Seeks to Turn ‘New Page’ in Ties with Lebanon

 In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
TT
20

Iran Seeks to Turn ‘New Page’ in Ties with Lebanon

 In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Lebanese officials on Tuesday that Iran wanted to turn a "new page" in relations with Beirut, hinting at a shift in diplomatic ties that were long grounded in supporting Tehran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah was once a powerful armed movement and political party with sway over Lebanon's state, but it was severely weakened by Israel's bombing campaign last year. Since then, Lebanon's army commander was elected president and a new cabinet with curtailed influence for Hezbollah and its allies took power.

Araqchi's one-day trip to Beirut on Tuesday was his first since February, when he attended the funeral of Hezbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, killed in Israeli air strikes in September.

Araqchi told both Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi that he wanted to "turn a new page" in Iran's ties with Lebanon, according to statements by Salam and Raggi's offices.

"Araqchi affirmed his country's keenness to open a new page in bilateral relations with Lebanon, based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," Salam's office said. Araqchi also extended a formal invitation for Salam to visit Iran.

The statement from Raggi's office said the pair had a "frank and direct discussion," including on establishing the state's monopoly on the use of arms - an apparent reference to possible negotiations on the future of Hezbollah's arsenal.

The top Iranian diplomat briefly addressed reporters on Tuesday after meeting with Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is a key Hezbollah ally. Unlike previous addresses by Iranian diplomats, his comments did not mention Hezbollah.

The visit followed several turbulent episodes in ties between the two countries.

Lebanon's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to Beirut in April over comments alleging that plans to disarm Hezbollah were a "conspiracy".

Last year, then-Prime Minister Najib Mikati also issued a rare rebuke of Iran for "interfering" in internal Lebanese affairs.

In February, Iran blocked Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Tehran after Lebanon said it would not allow Iranian aircraft to land in Beirut because of Israel's threats that it would bomb the planes.