Maarab Meeting: “Lebanon is Not Iran” – Geagea Warns of Worsening Conditions and Urges Implementation of Government Decisions

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea emphasized that "Lebanon is not Iran" and called for a realistic approach to the current situation, warning that conditions could deteriorate further if not addressed.

He reaffirmed that the responsibility of the state remains, noting that the Lebanese government has taken clear and bold decisions on various occasions that must now be implemented.

Geagea made these remarks during the opening of the National Maarab Meeting under the theme “To Save Lebanon,” attended by MPs including Michel Moawad, Major General Ashraf Rifi, Nemat Efram, Fouad Makhzoumi, Selim Saadeh, and members of the Strong Republic bloc:

George Adwan, Ghassan Hasbani, Giath Yazbek, Fadi Karam, Melhem Riachi, Nazih Matta, George Aqqis, Razi El-Hajj, Antoine Habchi, Pierre Bou Assi, Jihad Baqradoni, Strida Geagea, Said Al-Asmar, Shouqi Dakash, and Ghada Ayoub, as well as Camille Chamoun, head of the Free Nationals Party.

The meeting was also attended by ministers, former ministers, former MPs, party officials, political figures, civil society representatives, and media personnel.

After the Lebanese national anthem, Geagea called for a moment of silence for those who fell in the ongoing war. He stressed that despite efforts over the past decades to avoid the current crisis—including the disbanding of militias between 1992 and 1994 and ongoing political initiatives since 2005—the country has reached a critical point largely due to Hezbollah’s actions under Iranian influence.

Geagea reiterated that Lebanon’s sovereignty is at stake, warning that failure to implement government decisions—particularly regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah—threatens national stability. He stressed that enforcement of these decisions is the responsibility of state institutions, not just the ministers.

A small committee was formed to follow up on the meeting’s outcomes, including MPs Selim Saadeh, Fouad Makhzoumi, Ashraf Rifi, Michel Moawad, Michel Douaihy, Ghassan Hasbani, George Aqqis, and political analyst Saleh Meshnouq.

The closing statement of the meeting called on the Lebanese people and international community to recognize the grave dangers facing Lebanon and to hold responsible parties accountable. It emphasized that Lebanon today faces a choice: either a functioning state or no state—and the participants committed to fighting for the restoration of state authority until the end.

The meeting’s resolutions were drafted by MPs George Adwan, Selim Saadeh, Michel Moawad, Michel Douaihy, along with Brigadier General Johnny Khalaf, Saleh Meshnouq, Camille Mourani, and journalists Beshara Charbel, Ali Hamadeh, and Marwan Al-Amin.