Lebanon is facing a worsening humanitarian and political crisis related to Syrian refugees. In the past months, escalating tensions were witnessed and demands for their deportation back to their country after enduring severe crises that Lebanon is striving to overcome with minimal losses.

However, the current atmosphere does not bode well, as deportation operations have not taken the necessary path, and what we witness seems to be mere theatrical performances that have wearied the people, as usual.

In an interview with “Al-Siyasa” newspaper, Head of Kataeb Foreign Affairs Department Marwan Abdallah stated that the Lebanese government today is responsible for making the necessary decisions on the Syrian presence in Lebanon after internal consensus was reached among different Lebanese political parties.

Abdallah emphasized that the government should begin regulating the Syrian presence in Lebanon, in addition to securing the borders safely (closing illegitimate border crossings) and returning those who do not qualify for refugee status.

He pointed out that the Kataeb Party is working with international partners to reach a comprehensive solution regarding the Syrian displaced issue, as well as working on the delivery of refugee data by the responsible authorities, especially the “UNHCR”.

Abdallah clarified that despite the absence of media focus on the file, the refugee topic is entirely the responsibility of the government, stressing the need for popular pressure to solve this issue by the Lebanese government and other international agencies.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army published an article regarding the escalation of gunfire exchanges with Hezbollah in northern Lebanon, affirming that it "is approaching the point where it will have to make a decision and is prepared and ready to transition to an attack."

The Israeli army stated in its report that on the 8th of October, Hezbollah decided to join the war initiated by Hamas on the 7th of October, adding: "Since then, we have been carrying out extremely strong, important, and necessary defensive operations... in the air, at sea, and of course, on the ground. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been deployed along the northern borders after numerous exercises, awaiting orders."

This escalation by the Israeli army accompanies another escalation led by Hezbollah, but matters have turned south, with widespread destruction affecting many neighborhoods there.

Abdallah indicated that Hezbollah took a one-sided decision to engage Lebanon in the war, claiming support for Gaza while Gaza is being destroyed, and its residents being displaced without any impact from the northern front(Lebanese southern front), noting that Hezbollah’s decisions helped in destroying southern Lebanon and along with it, the Lebanese economy.

He called on the responsible parties to work towards ending the war, emphasizing the need to redeploy the Lebanese armed forces (LAF) on the borders and implement UNSC Resolution 1701.

However, according to Abdallah, this is not enough, as any Lebanese or non-Lebanese party present in Lebanon must be prevented from dragging the country into a war, as Lebanon can no longer tolerate being a platform for external wars on its soil, affirming that the southern confrontation can open on all fronts, meaning a comprehensive war between Hezbollah and Israel.

As for the presidential file, he indicated that Hezbollah has enforced its grip on the democratic process in Lebanon and used it to impose a certain political reality, and therefore it is either the election of its candidate to the presidency or else there will be a political vacuum.

He stressed that what we need today are guarantees about how to understand and elect a president, asking: "Who guarantees that those who destroyed Lebanon want to bring life back to it?"

Regarding the Brussels conference, Abdallah confirmed that the conference results did not yield anything new as no final solution was proposed for the process of returning refugees to Syria, indicating that proposed international solutions are for the short term.

Abdallah concluded by saying: "Lebanon is living in an abnormal state, and there is a party (Hezbollah) that sees itself as above the state institutions, constitution, and law, and if we continue down this path, Lebanon will return to the era of oppression that we experienced during of the Syrian occupation."

This article was written by Khalil Mardas for “Al-Siyasa” Newspaper.