Elias Bejjani/Text & Video/To the Salam Government and the President: The international community installed you to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its MiniState in favor of Lebanon’s sovereignty—resign if you are incapable or unwilling.
To the Salam Government and the President: The international community installed you to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its MiniState in favor of Lebanon’s sovereignty—resign if you are incapable or unwilling. Elias Bejjani/March 17/2025
It has become clear that Lebanon cannot continue under a government and presidency marked by hesitation and inaction in implementing international resolutions, which are key to restoring its sovereignty and stability. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun were brought to power through an international and regional consensus, represented by the Quintet Committee, with the primary objective—(despite Hezbollah, Nabih Berri, and the majority of MPs opposing it)—of enforcing the ceasefire agreement by implementing the relevant international resolutions, including the Armistice Agreement, Resolution 1559, Resolution 1701, and Resolution 1680. These resolutions unequivocally demand the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, not merely the partial surrender of weapons or negotiations to maintain them under any pretext.
Therefore, the government and the president must establish a strict timeline, not exceeding a few months, to accomplish this mission instead of engaging in evasion, delays, and appeasement of Nabih Berri and what remains of Hezbollah’s leadership. Any procrastination will only bring more destruction and economic and political decline. The international community and Arab states will not provide Lebanon with any financial support if its government continues to play the role of a hesitant bystander in the face of the country’s greatest challenge: Berri’s maneuvers and Hezbollah’s weapons and stranglehold on political decision-making.
In this context, Nabih Berri, the Speaker of Parliament, bears direct responsibility. He signed the ceasefire agreement on behalf of Lebanon and, effectively, on behalf of Hezbollah and its patron, Iran. He must cease playing word games and engaging in political deception. He must either explicitly declare Hezbollah and Iran’s acceptance of disarmament or face the consequences—including his resignation and potential prosecution. Lebanon cannot remain a hostage to an Iranian terrorist armed militia that falsely claims to be a “resistance” while dragging the country into economic devastation, political instability, and international isolation.
The government’s continued vague and ambiguous stances on Hezbollah’s stances and weapons, under the flimsy excuse of “Israeli occupation,” are unacceptable. The current situation allows no room for such linguistic maneuvering. The demand is clear: Hezbollah must be disarmed, not only south of the Litani River but throughout all of Lebanon. The illegal militia Ministate operating under the command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps must be brought to an end.
If the government and president fail to carry out this critical mission, it simply means they are unfit for leadership. They must immediately admit their failure and resign, making way for those capable of confronting this national challenge. The international community and the majority of the Lebanese people will not tolerate any scenario aimed at appeasing Hezbollah or postponing the dismantling of its armed Iranian ministate. The choice is clear: either disarm Hezbollah, reassert state sovereignty through Lebanon’s own forces with UNIFIL’s support, or step aside and allow a government with the will and capability to assume this responsibility.
Continuing the current state of weakness and indecision will have catastrophic consequences—not just for Hezbollah and the areas under its control, but for all of Lebanon. Israel will inevitably be compelled, with full American support, to launch another military campaign against Hezbollah, which will not be limited to the militia alone but will engulf the entire country. This will only deepen the suffering of the Lebanese people and obliterate any remaining hope for reconstruction and international aid. Therefore, a decisive course of action is necessary: the president and the government must either implement international resolutions or resign, making way for leadership that can restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and reclaim it as a strong, independent state.
