Head of the Kataeb Party's Media Department, Patrick Richa, questioned the motives behind Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s recent remarks on Hezbollah's weapons, calling for a renewed national commitment to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and the disarmament of all non-state groups.

In comments to Annahar newspaper, Richa reaffirmed the Kataeb’s longstanding position on the issue of arms outside the control of the State.

“Our stance on illegal weapons is clear and consistent,” Richa said. “We do not understand the reasons behind Speaker Berri’s remarks, whether made in public or behind closed doors.”

“He may be addressing the international community, his political base, or there may be other considerations at play," he noted, stressing that Lebanon’s national interest should remain the priority, regardless of the speaker’s intentions.

“What matters to us in Lebanon is implementing Resolution 1701 and ensuring that all illegal weapons are handed over to the Lebanese State,” Richa stated.

Last week, Berri said that Hezbollah will not relinquish its weapons until Israel fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

"We will not hand over our weapons until the enemy meets the required conditions," Berri was quoted as saying in an interview with Asas Media. “Our weapons are our negotiation cards. We will not give them up without the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and progress in discussions about the future of the weapons issue.”

While acknowledging Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, Richa cautioned against providing Israel with any further justification for its actions.

“We are aware of Israel’s violations of the ceasefire, but we must ensure that we do not give them any additional pretext for aggression,” he warned.