Lebanese Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel voiced support for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday, praising the government’s approach while launching a sharp attack on Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal and its role in dragging Lebanon into regional conflicts.

Gemayel made the remarks after leading a Kataeb delegation in a meeting with Prime Minister Salam at the Grand Serail in Beirut.

“We told the prime minister that we are proud of his performance, particularly his commitment to transparency, integrity and putting the country’s interests first,” Gemayel said following the meeting.

“We told the prime minister that we are proud of his performance, particularly his commitment to transparency, integrity and putting the country’s interests first,” Gemayel said following the meeting.

He also defended President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam against criticism over the recently signed framework agreement, questioning whether Hezbollah’s military capabilities had succeeded in protecting Lebanon.

“To those spreading confusion, we ask: Did your arsenal and your missiles succeed in protecting Lebanon?” Gemayel said. “They did not protect Lebanon. Instead, they dragged the country into conflicts and crises.”

Gemayel said those responsible for involving Lebanon in devastating wars and contributing to the occupation of more than 15 percent of Lebanese territory should reconsider their positions.

“If someone drags the country into disasters, brings destruction upon it and ends up contributing to the occupation of a significant part of Lebanese territory, the least they can do is stop lecturing others,” he said.

He argued that Hezbollah’s weapons had not been used to defend Lebanon, but rather to support regional allies, citing its involvement in conflicts linked to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Those weapons were not used to defend Lebanon or preserve its sovereignty,” Gemayel said. “They were used to support Bashar al-Assad, then Yahya Sinwar, and later Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran. Three wars of support over the past decade have ultimately led to the occupation of 15 percent of Lebanon’s territory and the deaths of thousands of young Lebanese. And today, the same people are giving us lessons about patriotism.”

Gemayel said Lebanese diplomacy had succeeded, despite the imbalance in military power between Lebanon and Israel, in securing a commitment from Israel to halt its war on Lebanese territory and withdraw its forces, provided that Lebanon’s territory was no longer used to support conflicts unrelated to its national interests.

He said the priority now should be restoring state sovereignty and ensuring that no armed militia operates outside the authority of the Lebanese state.

“What we need today is what should have been done all along for the sake of our people: restoring our sovereignty and making sure there are no armed militias operating on Lebanese soil,” he said.

Addressing Hezbollah and its allies, he added: “You are the ones who dragged us into this occupation and these wars. Leave the president and the prime minister to do what is necessary to save Lebanon.”

He criticized those objecting to the current negotiations process, saying they were focusing on secondary issues rather than supporting efforts to secure an Israeli withdrawal.

“Those who are raising objections today need to be realistic and look at the facts,” he said. “During negotiations, it is normal to suspend military action until the Israeli withdrawal is secured. They should read the agreement carefully: the objective is the redeployment of Israeli forces outside Lebanon.”

Gemayel accused Hezbollah of seeking to preserve its weapons in order to maintain Iran’s ability to use Lebanese territory in the event of a regional confrontation.

“The reality is that they do not want the Lebanese State to regain full sovereignty and control over its decisions,” Gemayel said. “They do not want the army to exercise authority over every inch of Lebanese territory.”

“Their goal is to keep their weapons so that Iran can use Lebanese land and Lebanese lives to defend itself if it comes under attack from any side,” he added. “We are dealing with people who cannot put Lebanon first. For them, Iran comes first.”

Gemayel called for the implementation of the framework agreement and urged the Lebanese army to assume its responsibilities by carrying out the measures outlined in the framework paper.

He said this included Israel’s withdrawal from the designated area, the deployment of the Lebanese army, the surveying of affected areas, and providing the international community with evidence that Lebanon was fulfilling its commitments.

“The United States is clearly committed to implementing the agreement, and this is an opportunity that must be seized,” he said. “Anyone who has an alternative should present it instead of lecturing us.”