Geagea Says 'Eternal' Ties with Mustaqbal Preserve Lebanon
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea described his ties with al-Mustaqbal movement of ex-Premier Saad Hariri as “eternal,” stressing their alliance was essential in preserving Lebanon.
“Our relations are eternal. They go beyond that. We consider the alliance between the LF and al-Mustaqbal essential in keeping the unity of the Lebanese entity,” said Geagea in remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday.
The LF leader advised Hariri to remain adamant in his call on Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria and not to confront the will of the Syrian people in calling for a change in the “authoritarian” regime.
“The Sunni sect in Lebanon considers that Hizbullah is waging war against Sunnis in Syria and this is clearly affecting Lebanon's situation,” said Geagea.
Hizbullah fighters have gone to join Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces in their battle against Sunni rebels, drawing anger at home from Lebanon's Sunnis and stoking Sunni-Shiite tensions.
This in turn led to tit-for-tat suicide bombings and several rounds of street clashes in Lebanon in the past year.
Along with the Lebanese army, Hizbullah is fighting almost daily incursions by Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front militants in the eastern Bekaa valley, prompting accusations that the army is collaborating with the party against the Lebanese Sunnis, placing the army in the thick of the Sunni-Shiite confrontation.
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