Bassil says Hezbollah military role 'no longer acceptable'

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has said that its old ally Hezbollah can no longer have a military role and has to abide by the Lebanese constitution and rules.

"We had an understanding but it no longer exists," Bassil said Tuesday, accusing Hezbollah of going to a war that was not in Lebanon's interest. "This has greatly weakened our relations, but it is still a Lebanese party and we have to talk to them just like we talk to all the other parties."

Bassil went on to say that the Lebanese should protect their homeland against any aggression but must not engage in a war that is not "ours" and suggested that Hezbollah be integrated into a national defense strategy. "Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese people and must be accepted as such, but it must also accept that its military role is no longer acceptable," he said. "It cannot protect Lebanon on its own. It's the Lebanese state's responsibility to protect the country."

Bassil also said that Hezbollah has been weakened in its war with Israel but is still strong domestically, adding that that Hezbollah cannot be eliminated.