Head of a political and Christian party Alliance Group in Lebanon It calls on the United States and its Western allies to intervene and deploy deterrent forces to permanently dismantle Hezbollah.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Ibrahim Murad, head of the World Syriac Union Party and Secretary-General of the Lebanese Christian Front, said that the time has come for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany to send forces in coordination with the United Nations. Finally, the Lebanese Army, in cooperation with the Lebanese Army, was able to From dismantling the Iranian-backed terrorist group.
“If this is delayed, the mullah may once again gain more power, and that will again be impossible (dismantling Hezbollah),” Murad said through a translator, referring to the leaders of the Islamic Republic. Which is headed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mourners raise their hands and chant slogans during a funeral procession for Hezbollah fighters killed in an Israeli raid in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, September 21, 2024. (Associated Press)
Israel warns that it will go after Lebanon directly if the ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed early last month that Hezbollah had been “defeated” in Lebanon after just over a month of targeted strikes focused on destroying the terrorist group’s strongholds in southern Lebanon and in the capital, Beirut, especially in the Dahiya suburb.
A fragile 13-point ceasefire was then agreed late last month Between Israel and Hezbollah This largely ended the strikes, although both sides have launched sporadic attacks since then.
But reports this month indicated that US intelligence officials believe Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has taken no step to dismantle its military operations in Lebanon – a key plank of the agreement – and that it is likely to appear that way. To rebuild its forces and stocks.
The Lebanese Syriac Catholic Christian Boy Scouts carry a statue of the Virgin Mary during a procession marking the month of the Virgin Mary in a Christian-dominated Beirut neighborhood on May 27, 2016. The Syriac Catholic Church belongs to the See of Antioch and its roots extend back to the origins of Christianity in the Levant. (Photo by Patrick Paz/AFP via Getty Images)
US intelligence reportedly showed that Hezbollah continued to recruit recruits into its ranks even as it was receiving severe blows from Israel during November. It has also been reported to be trying to rearm itself through local production as well as smuggling efforts through Syria, although it is unclear how these efforts have been affected by the Syrian crisis. The situation deteriorated in the neighboring country During the last week.
The Christian Front led by Murad said During a meeting at its headquarters She said in Beirut's Achrafieh neighborhood earlier this month that she did not believe the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah would hold. Therefore, it urges members of the Lebanese Parliament to request the deployment of international forces amid the “expected failure of the ceasefire agreement.”
Ibrahim Murad, Chairman of the International Syriac Union Party and Secretary-General of the Party, December 6, 2024.
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Murad explained to Fox News Digital that while nearly 70% of the country, by his estimates, does not support Hezbollah, the government and army are not strong enough to completely dismantle the terrorist group or prevent it from posing a future threat to Israel. This is a situation that threatens to repeat the failures of the past.
Previous international agreements under UN Resolution 1559, signed in 2004, and Resolution 1701, signed in 2006, called for the disarmament and dissolution of all militia groups and the dismantling of militias. Deployment of United Nations and Lebanese forces To the south of the country to prevent Hezbollah from controlling areas bordering Israel. Both decisions were not implemented.
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on Dahiya, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, November 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
“We know now, in this situation, that the Lebanese army was unable to implement Resolution 1559 to force Hezbollah to (drop) its weapons,” Murad told Fox News Digital through a translator. He added, “This is why we are asking for help from the United Nations. They can come and implement these two resolutions… (but) we want the Americans, Germans and British to be present in these forces.”
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the State Department for comment on whether Lebanon had contacted the United States regarding a request to deploy American forces.
Fears in Beirut that the ceasefire would fail coincided with threats made by the Israeli Defense Minister this week that Jerusalem would not surrender. He no longer differentiates between Lebanon and Hezbollah If the terrorist group violates the agreement.
A convoy of UNIFIL vehicles travels through the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon on December 4, 2024, during a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. (Getty Images)
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When asked about the warning Katz issued last week, the Lebanese Christian leader said such an approach would be a “mistake” that could turn the tide against Jerusalem.
“If they do that, the Lebanese people will be against Israel. As I said before, most people are now against Hezbollah, not against Israel,” he said.
He added, “If they target (civilians), that would be a mistake,” noting that he does not believe that Jerusalem will actually begin pursuing targets other than Hezbollah.
