Samir Geagea Urges Hezbollah to Halt Fighting and Accept Framework Agreement

Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces party, stated that there is significant public confusion regarding the Washington framework agreement. He remarked, "If the May 17 Agreement had remained in effect and been implemented, how many wars and hardships would we have spared the Lebanese people over the past 45 years?"

Geagea pointed out that Lebanon currently faces a serious crisis amid Israeli occupation and that the framework agreement represents an option. Addressing Hezbollah, he said, "You neither fight nor want anyone to negotiate a framework agreement." He described the current situation as misleading to the public, emphasizing that the agreement is the only available option to move Lebanon from a state of war toward nation-building.

He revealed that he delivered a message to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shayebani for Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shar'a, urging continuation of existing policies based on the principle that Lebanon is a "sovereign, free, and independent state" and should be treated accordingly. Geagea added that Syria could assist in removing Iranian influence from Lebanon. He described the Syrian side as friendly but stressed that the Lebanese state must resolve its own problems and is capable of addressing Hezbollah's issue if it chooses to do so.