Kataeb Political Bureau member Joelle Bou Abboud said that the ceasefire agreement’s terms reflects Hezbollah's defeat and surrender, noting, however, that the deal encloses positive aspects, in terms of placing arms under the State's authority and expanding the Lebanese Army’s control across the entire country. These, she emphasized, must serve as foundational elements for Lebanon’s future.

“We have no choice but to place our trust in the government. Our demand has consistently been for legitimate authority to assume full control. When institutions fulfill their national roles, that is sufficient. We are beginning to see the first signs of progress, with the army deploying in the south, including in Marjayoun barracks. This process has started, but it requires time, and we must remain vigilant to prevent any laxity in implementing the ceasefire agreement," Bou Abboud said in an interview on Voice of Lebanon radio.

“What we are witnessing today is the direct result of Hezbollah’s decision to engage in war. Their policies have brought us to this point. The damage they have caused by turning Lebanon into a battlefield for the Iranian-Israeli conflict cannot be repaired overnight. Our concern is that Hezbollah may renege on the ceasefire agreement, as they did in the past. However, it is reassuring that Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati appear determined to enforce it.”

Bou Abboud stressed that Hezbollah’s integration into the state is contingent on its disarmament and equality with all Lebanese citizens.

“We will not compromise on this issue. Lebanon is at a pivotal crossroads in its history, and the era of the ‘Army, People, Resistance’ trilogy is over. The issue of arms must be addressed because a country cannot function with dual authorities, nor can judicial independence be achieved while figures like Wafik Safa visit courthouses and threaten judges. The cornerstone of state-building is the full surrender of arms to legitimate state institutions," she stressed. 

Regarding the opposition forces' meeting earlier on Tuesday, Bou Abboud explained that it is part of a series of discussions that the opposition has been holding for the past year.

"The goal is to unify the voices of more than 31 opposition MPs, advocating for the exclusive control of arms by the Lebanese Army. This is essential to ensure a sustainable solution, transforming the ceasefire into a permanent cessation of hostilities, and ending the destructive trajectory Hezbollah has imposed on Lebanon.”

She emphasized that the opposition’s statement was unequivocal in calling for open-ended parliamentary sessions to elect a president.

“Our issue is with Hezbollah, not the Shia community,” she clarified. “Many Shia citizens oppose Hezbollah’s policies and have been more vocal than we have in criticizing the party.”

When asked about the criteria for the next president, Bou Abboud said that it is no longer acceptable to settle for just any president or a mere figurehead.

"Lebanon needs a leader backed by legitimate political forces, capable of enforcing the ceasefire agreement and ensuring internal security," she noted.