Head of the Students and Youth Department at the Kataeb Party Elias Semaan affirmed that "it is normal to stand by our comrades in the Lebanese Forces, as we share a common destiny and path."

"We consider Pascal Sleiman as a martyr of the Kataeb and approach the matter on this basis. Whenever the state is absent, April 13 draws nearer. We emphasize that we, as students and youth of parties that have died and sacrificed for the establishment of the Lebanese state, will accept nothing less than that," Semaan said.

He questioned those who consider their criticism as trivializing certain events and accuse them of wanting to incite discord because they critique an illegitimate weapon that legitimizes and empowers non-state actors to carry out assassinations.

"Is the one who incites discord the one shedding light on the wrongs in the country? Or the one who kills? Is it the one threatening and burning down the judiciary? Or the one indicating the absence of a state, militias, and the decision of peace and war? Is it because we warn that our youth are emigrating and we are unable to do anything to keep them, that we are accused of inciting discord?" Semaan asked.

He answered, "If this means discord, then we are its masters."

Semaan emphasized that the Kataeb Party stands by the Lebanese Forces and the opposition.

"Pascal's assassination will not intimidate us, just as previous assassinations did not. We will not surrender, and we will continue to speak the truth, as we were taught by the late President Bachir Gemayel," he concluded.