Marwan Abdallah, head of the Foreign Affairs Department at the Lebanese Kataeb Party, has sharply criticized Hezbollah for exacerbating Lebanon's ongoing crisis, accusing the group of undermining state institutions and contributing to the country's severe political and economic instability.

“We are a leading party in the opposition, and we’ve been countering Hezbollah’s attempt to take over the state of Lebanon since 2005,” Abdallah said in an interview on BBC.

“Our role today is to bring back the state institutions to their function,” he stressed. “Our effort as opposition within the parliament and the democratic institutions is to try to reinstate the state's power, the rule of law, and also the coercion of power in the hands of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Lebanese security forces only, without any other militia to be present on the Lebanese soil.”

Abdallah attributed Lebanon's current challenges, including the ongoing presidential vacancy and the crumbling economy and financial system, directly to Hezbollah's actions.

“We blame all this on Hezbollah and its allies because of their attempts to dismantle the state from one side and maintain a parallel cash economy to evade international sanctions from the other,” he explained.

Regarding the conflict in South Lebanon, Abdallah reiterated that the Lebanese people did not choose to enter this war.

“Since October 8th, Hezbollah and other military factions that are present in South Lebanon against international resolutions, notably the UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, started a war to support Hamas's efforts in Gaza. It's not the Lebanese state, it's not the Lebanese people, it's not the Lebanese government that decided to enter the war,” he stated.

Abdallah expressed deep concern over the impact of regional power struggles on Lebanon, saying that the Lebanese are enduring the consequences of decisions taken by one militia that Iran and the Revolutionary Guard of Iran control.

“We are stuck in a situation where we are being used as a platform for regional powers to send military messages to each other,” he said, emphasizing that Lebanese citizens primarily focus on overcoming their economic and financial hardships.

“The Lebanese people just want to escape their economic and financial misery, fix their political system, and seek at least five years of peace and normal life like any other human being,” Abdallah added.

Abdallah shed light on the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the precarious situation facing Lebanon, highlighting the potential for further escalation as military skirmishes between opposing forces continue to spiral.

“In any skirmishes that happen between two military entities, mistakes will happen. Somebody will hit the missile further from the red lines drawn by both sides and then the other will have to retaliate.”

Abdallah expressed frustration with the lack of focus on Lebanon’s plight, highlighting that while Lebanon frequently engages with Western nations due to their involvement in Lebanese affairs, the country's issues often fall behind other regional priorities.

This geopolitical sidelining, Abdallah argued, stems from Western focus on more immediate concerns like regional security, energy supplies, and trade routes. He emphasized that while Lebanon has historically been a crucial link between the West and the East, its current status as a focal point for international diplomacy is diminished.

“Lebanon’s security and safety come under a pile in a folder that’s called Iran or Israel. There's no priority for Lebanese affairs or the fate of the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people. This is our main issue.”

Abdallah criticized past international agreements, particularly the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, which he believes have adversely affected Lebanon.

“These deals, whether with Hezbollah as a fraction or with Iran as the godfather of this fraction, have benefited Iran and Hezbollah but have brought worse times upon the Lebanese people and the Lebanese state.”

Abdallah underscored Lebanon's critical role as a stable partner in the Middle East and its historical significance in connecting the West with the East, emphasizing the country’s potential to contribute to regional and global stability, provided it receives the necessary international support.

“What we are trying to do is to make sure they understand the benefit of a peaceful, prosperous, and safe Lebanon for security not only in the region but also in the rest of the world,” he concluded.