Beirut: Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel launched a sharp attack on Hezbollah and Iran, blaming Tehran for Lebanon's current crises and accusing it of exploiting the Lebanese militant group as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Washington.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Gemayel stated, 'If Iran wants to keep destabilizing Lebanon and using Hezbollah as leverage in its talks with the United States, then Hezbollah is nothing more than a mercenary force. It is not acting in the interest of Lebanon, but of another country, at the expense of its own people,' during an interview with the Kuwaiti Al Seyassah newspaper.
Gemayel highlighted the government's recent decision to enforce exclusive state control over weapons, which Hezbollah rejected, warning of civil war if the army attempted to disarm the group. He dismissed Hezbollah's argument that its arsenal was protecting Lebanon, asserting, 'Nowhere in the world do you see an armed militia operating alongside the national army. It is time for a change; weapons must be in the hands of the Lebanese Army alone, as in every other country.'
He further argued that Iran had sacrificed not only Lebanon but also the Shiite community itself, dragging Hezbollah and its ally Amal into conflicts against Israel, against other Lebanese, and even against each other. 'It is time to say to this camp: enough,' Gemayel emphasized.
Gemayel called for the Shiite community to break free from Iran's grip and stop being dragged into further conflict. 'The ball is in their court. As for the rest of us, we are acting as a State should, insisting that arms remain under the control of the State. We await the army's disarmament plan, but nothing will be easy until the Shiite community itself rejects Iran's dictates,' he added.
He also noted that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had declared support for exclusive State control of arms, but Iran and Hezbollah quickly reaffirmed their alliance with Amal to block disarmament. 'This means Hezbollah and Iran want to forcibly drag Amal into a conflict it does not want,' he said.
Gemayel urged the international community, particularly Arab states, to ramp up pressure on Iran.