Kataeb Party political bureau member and former Minister Alain Hakim on Monday held Hezbollah responsible for the ongoing instability in Lebanon and called for decisive action by the Lebanese State to reassert control over contested areas and disarm the group.

In an interview on OTV, Hakim said President Joseph Aoun’s latest remarks about Hezbollah were “accurate,” noting that attempts to lure the Israeli military into Lebanon with rocket attacks were part of a broader strategy by the militant group.

“President Aoun tried for a long period to contain Hezbollah, giving it space to reach practical solutions and shielding it behind a strong barrier—the State itself—but Hezbollah’s only goal was to undermine the Lebanese State and act in the service of Iran,” Hakim said.

“President Aoun’s primary objective was to restore the State and keep it neutral from regional conflicts by strengthening the Lebanese army to carry out its duties,” he said.

He added that there is a local consensus to avoid a direct confrontation between the Lebanese army and Israeli forces, emphasizing that clashes are today limited to Hezbollah, “which rebels against the Lebanese State and operates illegally,” and the Israeli military.

Hakim warned that Lebanon is no longer in a “gray zone” and requires extraordinary measures.

“It is time for the Lebanese State to take the reins and for the president to fulfill his responsibilities. Today, we need solutions beyond the conventional; compromise solutions no longer work,” he said.

“It is imperative to dismantle this illegal group. We must bear the consequences of this stage rather than continue with the same exhausting status quo,” Hakim said, adding that tough actions should be implemented through security and military mechanisms.

Hakim also criticized the military court’s decision to release Hezbollah members, calling it “a farce” and saying it highlights the deep penetration of Hezbollah within Lebanese state institutions.

Commenting on Hezbollah’s expansion in southern Lebanon, he said: “When the army withdrew from the south, Hezbollah advanced. We cannot hold the army responsible, as its withdrawal was tactical to avoid confrontation with the Israeli military. We refuse to play into the hands of Hezbollah and Iran by attacking our own army."

Hakim reaffirmed the Kataeb Party’s position of non-interference with the Lebanese army.

“The army must not be targeted because it is the cornerstone of the country at this stage. We maintain daily contact with army leadership to help the forces perform their duties,” he said.