The head of the Christian political party Lebanese Forces on Sunday accused Hezbollah of dragging the country into war with Israel without consulting the people.
In a speech attacking the Shi’ite Muslim group, Samir Geagea, head of the main Christian bloc in parliament, accused Hezbollah of “seizing the Lebanese people’s decision on war and peace as if there was no state”.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October, Hezbollah has been engaging in almost daily cross-border fire with Israel in support of its Palestinian ally, which the Lebanese army and other forces oppose.
Geagea said in a speech to supporters north of Beirut that the clashes were “a war that the Lebanese people reject, but that has been imposed on them.”
“This is a war that the Lebanese people do not want and that the government has no say in. This war does not bring any benefits to Lebanon, it has not gained anything for Gaza, nor has it reduced its suffering in the slightest,” he said.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah was the only Lebanese faction that did not disarm after the 1975-1990 civil war.
Its arsenal is believed to be much larger than that of the Lebanese Army, and its supporters promote it as a shield against Israel.
Critics of the movement call Hezbollah a “state within a state”.
“This war, which involves Hezbollah, must stop before it turns into a major war in which no one will be spared,” Geagea said.
He urged the government to urge Hezbollah to stop fighting with Israel.
Lebanon has no president and a caretaker government is struggling to run the country which is facing a severe financial crisis.
Tensions along the border escalated significantly last month, but have now eased. Analysts say both sides are exercising restraint to prevent regional tensions.
In the latest incident, one person was killed and 11 injured in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Beirut’s health ministry said.
Hezbollah announced that one of its fighters was killed by Israeli fire.
Nearly 607 people have been killed in Lebanon in violence since October, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also at least 132 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
On the Israeli side, which includes the Golan Heights, officials have announced the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians.
Thousands of people are displaced on both sides.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
