Bassil to Hezbollah: We Support Defense, Not Offense Strategy

Jebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, has continued to voice his concerns about Hezbollah’s actions in the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that “Lebanon alone cannot liberate Palestine.”

Bassil stated, “We are in a challenging period, and questions are being raised about our relationship with Hezbollah. We support Hezbollah when it defends Lebanon and responds to Israeli aggression, but we do not support them initiating a war against Israel. These are two distinct issues,” he said during a dinner hosted by the FPM’s Chouf branch.

He further clarified, “We advocate for a defense strategy, not an offensive one. This doesn’t mean we want Israel to succeed, but Lebanon cannot single-handedly wage war on Israel or liberate Palestine.”

Bassil also addressed the comparison between the current situation and the 2006 war, saying, “There is no inconsistency between our stance in 2006 and our current position. In 2006, we were in a defensive posture, and despite the devastation, we prevailed because Israel failed to reoccupy us. But what is the objective of this current war? Assistance? Gaza has already been devastated!”

He expressed concern over Lebanon’s involvement in an extended conflict, noting that “Lebanon has been drawn into an open-ended war instead of focusing on protecting its economy, all while lacking a president.”

Bassil questioned the logic of entering negotiations without a functioning president and government, asking, “How can we proceed with negotiations without leadership in place?”