The Kataeb’s Political Bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of party leader Samy Gemayel to discuss the latest developments. The meeting opened with a tribute to the Lebanese Army soldiers who fell on Oct. 13, 1990, defending Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.

Following its deliberations, the bureau issued the following statement:

1. The seizure of a shipment of weapons and explosives in the act, coupled with an acknowledgment by a Hezbollah lawmaker that the shipment belonged to the party, places direct political responsibility for the shipment on Hezbollah. It also obliges the State to treat the case as a matter of national security and civil peace.

The Political Bureau stresses that such an acknowledgment cannot be allowed to pass without consequences. It expresses its support for the justice minister’s request to refer the explosives case, including all elements of the alleged criminal activity, to the Judicial Council without delay. The referral should establish the shipment’s intended destination and identify those responsible, paving the way for appropriate action in accordance with the law.

The bureau also urges the government to recognize the gravity of the current situation and enforce its decisions prohibiting Hezbollah’s security and military activities. Clear, immediate measures are required to dismantle the party’s security and military apparatus and bring its weapons under State control.

2. The Political Bureau rejects any attempt to make Lebanese citizens bear the burden of the current economic crisis and calls for reductions in taxes and fees.

It also urges the government to rein in public spending and recover State revenues through meaningful administrative reform, the approval of final budget accounts, as well as a crackdown on tax evasion, smuggling and the illicit economy. It further calls for broadening the tax base through effective and equitable collection mechanisms and recovering revenues owed to the State.

The bureau warns against exploiting mounting social discontent to derail the sovereign course set by the government and the presidency. It stresses that safeguarding social stability requires reforming State institutions, enforcing the law and restoring public revenues—not backtracking on efforts to reclaim the State’s decision-making authority and protect its sovereignty.