Geagea accuses Hezbollah of obstructing Palestinian camps disarmament
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Wednesday the Hezbollah-led camp of trying to delay Palestinian disarmament and called for a government timetable for removing all illegal Lebanese arms.
"The Hezbollah-led camp is pressuring Lebanese officials to delay the disarmament of Palestinian camps and inciting some Palestinian factions to oppose the disarmament," Geagea said in a statement.
A joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee had agreed last month that the disarmament of the first Palestinian camps in Lebanon will begin in mid-June in three Beirut camps, and other camps will follow.
"Any procrastination would show that the government is not serious and would delay the creation of an actual Lebanese state, keeping Lebanon isolated, especially from its Arab friends and obstructing any aid for the reconstruction (of war-hit regions) or for reviving the Lebanese economy," Geagea said, urging the President and the government to start taking serious steps to build a state that has a monopoly on arms and has war and peace decisions "like any other normal state."
Lebanon hosts about 222,000 Palestinian refugees, according to the United Nations agency UNRWA, many living in 12 overcrowded official camps.
Most are descendants of Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their land during the creation of Israel in 1948.
04 June 2025, 16:29
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You only need to look at how Al-Manar, Al-Akhbar and pro Hezbollah commentators have reacted to the President and PM's plan, to remove the weapons held by Palestinian factions in Lebanon's refugees camps, to confirm this. Hezbollah is now using the Palestinian arms in the camps as a pretext and delay tactic for the need for their own weapons.
04 June 2025, 18:53
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Let's be clear about sects and arms. Is the Lebanese Army a Christian militia?
04 June 2025, 18:56
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Google search "AI": No, the Lebanese Army (LAF) is not a Christian organization. While the LAF has historically been dominated by Christian officers, particularly Maronite Catholics, it's a secular military force, and efforts have been made to achieve a more balanced representation of different religious groups within its ranks."
04 June 2025, 20:49
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Are there Muslims in the Lebanese Army?
Google search "AI": Yes, Muslims, including both Sunni and Shia, serve in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The LAF has a clear Muslim majority, with a high probability of also having a Shia majority. Historically, there have been efforts to make the army more representative of Lebanon's diverse society, and while the officer corps has traditionally been dominated by Christians, the number of Christian officers has been declining.
04 June 2025, 20:50
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Here's a more detailed look:
Confessional Balance:
The LAF has strived to achieve a more balanced representation of different religious groups, especially after the Lebanese Civil War.
Muslim Majority:
Currently, Muslims, particularly Shia, make up a majority of the LAF.
Officer Corps Changes:
While traditionally dominated by Christians, particularly Maronites, the officer corps is becoming more diverse, with an increase in Muslim officers, including Shia and Sunni.
Regional Representation:
The presence of different Muslim groups within the army reflects the broader sectarian makeup of Lebanon, including Shia from Southern Lebanon and Baalbek-Hermel, Sunni from the North, and Druzes from the Chouf.
