MP Elias Hankach said Lebanon is facing a dangerous crossroads, deploring the widespread destruction that has devastated the south and left what he described as a “staggering” scene on the ground.

In remarks to MFM radio, Hankach said threats directed at Beirut’s southern suburbs, Dahiyeh, represent a step backward that risks undermining diplomatic efforts and President Joseph Aoun’s initiative to advance negotiations. He said Israel would need to offer tangible concessions in return for any direct talks with Lebanon aimed at securing a truce, while accusing Hezbollah of continuing to challenge State authority and threaten both institutions and civilians despite what he described as clear Israeli military superiority.

“This is not our war,” Hankach said. “If there is any revenge for Khamenei, it belongs in Iran.”

He accused both Israel and Hezbollah of jointly contributing to Lebanon’s destruction, saying that the government is now facing a critical test in asserting its authority across the country.

 “Diplomatic pressure must continue,” he said. “The United States must ensure an end to the systematic destruction of southern Lebanon.”

He added that Hezbollah must recognize that the Lebanese population is not politically aligned with it, and that the scale of national losses is becoming increasingly clear.

He argued that deterrence against Israel can only be achieved through the full enforcement of State authority, accusing Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem of issuing threats and “illusions” while provoking Israel and misleading supporters.

“We are militarily in no position to deter anyone,” he said. “And Hezbollah blocks us from negotiating with Israel, while at the same time allowing Iran to negotiate with the United States. That contradiction cannot continue.”

Hankach called for the Lebanese State to assert full sovereignty and implement its decisions to restrict weapons to State control, alongside sustained international diplomatic pressure.

He said President Joseph Aoun had sought to avoid confrontation with Hezbollah, but that the group’s escalating rhetoric now mirrors Israeli escalation. He warned that indefinite delays in implementing a state monopoly over arms were no longer sustainable.

According to Hankach, Hezbollah operates under Iranian direction and is effectively guided by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and would not halt its activities unless Tehran reaches an agreement with Washington.

He said President Aoun had refused to allow Lebanon to become “a pawn in Iran’s pocket,” instead separating negotiation tracks and moving toward direct engagement. He urged Hezbollah to operate within the state framework, arguing that doing so would ultimately protect its own constituency.

“If Hezbollah does not fully align itself with a Lebanese national agenda, then the State must impose its authority by all available means,” he said. “No one is exempt from risk. We are being dragged into a war we did not choose, and after this war, there will be no return to coexistence with its weapons.”

Hankach also congratulated MFM on its launch, praising the work of MTV Lebanon as a benchmark for media committed to truth and freedom.