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Tuesday 29 April 2025 14:36:46
Lebanon is making steady progress on the diplomatic front and must now push ahead with the implementation of international resolutions, the ceasefire agreement, and the disarmament of Hezbollah, Sassine Sassine, senior advisor to the head of the Kataeb Party, said Tuesday.
In an interview with Télé Liban, Sassine described the Lebanese state's current diplomatic posture as “active and consistent,” citing recent official statements as a sign of its engagement.
“From a diplomatic perspective, the Lebanese state is progressing steadily,” he said. “The declarations coming out of the state indicate that it is active and involved.”
But Sassine drew a clear line between the state’s official stance and Hezbollah’s position, accusing the group of falling short of fully complying with the ceasefire terms. He said Hezbollah had agreed to limit its weapons to areas south of the Litani River, rather than relinquishing arms across the entire country — a key demand under UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559.
He also referenced Israel’s interpretation of the ceasefire agreement, which requires that the Lebanese state hold exclusive authority over all weapons on its territory.
“The recent strike on Beirut's southern suburbs was a direct response to everything that had been said and done by Wafiq Safa, Naim Qassem, and the Speaker of Parliament,” Sassine said, referring to senior Hezbollah officials and their political allies.
Hezbollah’s decisions, he argued, are ultimately shaped by Tehran. While warning of the risk of further escalation, Sassine maintained that the direction is clear: “The decision to remove all illegal weapons in Lebanon—whether those of Hezbollah or Palestinian factions—has been made.”
“This will eventually happen,” he said confidently. “The so-called ‘resistance’ no longer has the ability to deter. All the justifications for the existence of its weapons have collapsed with a deafening thud.”
“If Wafiq Safa could eliminate Israel, he would have done so. But instead, he signed a ceasefire agreement whose clauses clearly stipulate the handover of weapons to the Lebanese state. His statements are nothing more than an attempt to rally internal support.”
Sassine reiterated the Kataeb Party’s longstanding call for a national truth and reconciliation conference that begins with placing all weapons under state control and restoring equal standing among all Lebanese citizens.
He also voiced cautious optimism about Lebanon’s political direction.
“The Kataeb Party is hopeful about this new era. So far, its path has been transparent, without exploitation of official positions,” he said. “Within this framework, we believe it is our duty to support this presidential term and the government.”
Commenting on the broader security situation, Sassine said a full-scale military escalation is unlikely, but emphasized the urgency of reclaiming the remaining five strategic hills still under foreign control.
“The state is moving in the right direction to liberate them,” he said, noting that Lebanese authorities are working closely with cabinet ministers and engaging in diplomatic channels to enforce the ceasefire.
