Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has warned that Lebanon is heading toward a “dangerous and potentially destructive summer” if the government fails to take decisive action to disarm Hezbollah.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Geagea declared that Hezbollah’s weapons “no longer serve Lebanon’s defense” and instead bring “only harm and ruin.”
With an approaching US-backed deadline of August 1 to centralize all arms under state control, Geagea said Lebanon faces two stark choices: “Either the government moves to disband all armed and security factions operating outside the state, or the country braces for a turbulent, if not outright violent summer.”
According to Geagea, the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, which ended a war between Hezbollah and Israel, explicitly stipulates that all arms must be in the hands of official state institutions.
“We were given 120 days to implement this, yet little has been done,” he said. “The only legal bearers of arms are the army and municipal police. Everything else must go.”
He added that while focus remains on Israeli violations and its presence in several disputed border points, the real issue lies within. “We can’t rely on empty rhetoric anymore. Hezbollah’s weapons have proven useless in defending Lebanon, and the international community no longer even pretends to acknowledge our suffering.”
Geagea argued that Lebanon’s strength lies in its diplomatic ties, especially with the Gulf, led by Saudi Arabia, and the West.
“Today, the world pressures Israel to stop the war in Gaza. No one is speaking about what’s happening in Lebanon,” he said. “We should be leveraging our relationships with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and the United States to stop the Israeli aggression and restore our sovereignty, not undermining those ties,” he underlined.
He accused Lebanese officials of “political paralysis” and “gray-zone governance,” saying they have squandered every opportunity to assert the state’s authority.
“We’re still stuck debating Israel while ignoring our own responsibilities. The state must act, or the country will collapse under the weight of its contradictions,” he said.
Addressing concerns that disarming Hezbollah without its consent could spark civil conflict, Geagea categorically rejected this excuse, noting that this logic has paralyzed Lebanon for years.
“We have a duly elected president, a legitimate government, and a functioning parliament. These institutions must govern, not defer to threats,” he remarked.
He called on the Cabinet to convene immediately and issue a binding resolution to dissolve all armed groups within a fixed timeframe, tasking the Lebanese Army with implementation.
“No one is suggesting a military campaign in Beirut’s southern suburbs,” he clarified. “What’s needed is for the state to project authority. Arrests should follow for those in violation, and they must be prosecuted under the law.”
'Illusion is over’
Geagea firmly rejected proposals that would allow Hezbollah to keep its light weaponry, while surrendering heavier arms. “Whether light or heavy, Hezbollah’s weapons no longer intimidate Israel. That illusion is over,” he said. “We are not discussing weapons in the material sense. The real issue is that an armed organization operates independently within what should be a sovereign nation. How is the entire world supposed to take us seriously, while we don’t?”
He warned that Lebanon cannot continue to function with divided authority. “We cannot keep passing decisions through parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who relays them to Hezbollah, then back to us. That’s not how a sovereign state works. Until full authority rests with the state, we will not be recognized as one.”
International support at risk
Geagea cautioned that Lebanon risks losing the goodwill of its international allies unless swift action is taken.
He stated: “The countries that helped us reach consensus on electing a president and forming a government are warning us loudly that this situation is unsustainable.”
He pointed to delays in a proposed French-led donor conference, reportedly stalled by US objections, saying: “Even the fall conference might not happen. The international community is growing weary of Lebanon’s inability to function as a state.”
Hezbollah’s ‘toys’ serve no one
Geagea questioned Hezbollah’s continued insistence on maintaining what he called “toys”, a colloquial Lebanese term for trivial or useless things.
“Why insist on operating a military and intelligence network parallel to the state’s? If this arsenal is meant to defend Lebanon, where is the evidence?” the LF leader asked.
He emphasized that disbanding Hezbollah’s military structure is not merely a foreign demand. “It’s in the President’s oath of office, the government’s policy statement, and the Taif Agreement. This is a Lebanese demand, rooted in law.”
False promises
Criticizing the government’s handling of the issue, Geagea said: “We’ve been in constant contact with officials. The answers are always the same: (US envoy Tom) Barrack is coming, Barrack is going, Berri is trying... I never believed it. I knew from the beginning this was just a farce.”
He added: “No serious country gives someone the option to keep their weapons. You say: ‘surrender them, or face consequences.’ We have elected leaders. They must decide, not turn to Berri, who then speaks to Hezbollah. Our leaders must stop hiding behind procedural games. The state doesn’t beg for permission or keep an entire country waiting for a response from abroad.”
“Officials must take the decisions in line with their conscience, presidential oath and government statement,” Geagea urged.
Increasing political pressure
Asked what options remain, he said his party would escalate political pressure. “We are in direct communication with the president and prime minister. We’ve told them clearly: we will not wait long.”
He revealed that talks are ongoing with other political blocs in government to issue a formal resolution banning all non-state armed groups. “Should we keep watching out country collapse as Israel escalates its strikes and more people immigrate?” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He warned of direct consequences if the status quo continues. “At minimum, we risk losing international funding, whether for the Lebanese Army or for United Nations peacekeepers in the south.”
Geagea contrasted Lebanon’s inaction with developments in Syria: “There are Arab investment projects worth over $10 billion in Syria. And here we are, waiting for messages from Barrack and Berri.”
He dismissed the idea that national security matters should be limited to the president. “This is squarely within the Cabinet’s authority, especially after Lebanon agreed to the November ceasefire. Pretending otherwise is a constitutional violation.”
New threat from East
Geagea stressed that Hezbollah’s role now brings harm from all directions. He explained: “It used to be just Israel and the West. Today, it includes Syria and the East.”
He pointed to reports that Hezbollah is supplying weapons to armed cells in Syria. “How do you think Syria’s new leadership will view this?”
Geagea downplayed the impact of what he described as “fear campaigns in Lebanon regarding developments in Syria.”
“We judge things based on facts, not intentions,” he said. “What exactly has the new Syrian leadership done so far that should cause concern?”
The LF leader argued that it is inappropriate to judge the current Syrian regime solely based on the ideology of its predecessor. “Since Ahmed Al-Sharaa assumed the presidency, relations with Lebanon have not progressed as they should, but at the very least, we have not witnessed any hostility from them,” he remarked.
He pointed to a second, more significant, factor of regional stability: “There are three countries with substantial influence over the Syrian situation - Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United States. The real question is: do these three powers, each for its own reasons, want Lebanon to remain stable or not?”
Geagea concluded that much of the fear being stirred is politically motivated: “Hezbollah and the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’ are trying to collect every card they can to justify holding onto their weapons.”
As for fears that Syria’s political transition could fuel extremism in Lebanon, Geagea dismissed them as unfounded. “Even during the height of the previous crisis and the rise of ISIS, we didn’t see extremism emerge in Lebanon. Why would it now?”
He added: “The Lebanese people, particularly the Sunni community, are inherently moderate. The past has proven this, and there’s no reason to believe it will change. Moreover, Lebanon’s security agencies are alert and actively working to contain any threat before it materializes.”
