Member of the Lebanese Forces, MP Ziad Hawat, accused Hezbollah of threatening Lebanon’s security, smuggling explosives and dragging the country into wars that have devastated its people and infrastructure. In remarks to MTV, Hawat called for swift judicial action and urged the government to move beyond statements and implement its decisions.
“Hezbollah is acting with blatant impudence, with one of its MPs openly boasting about smuggling explosives. This is a clear-cut crime committed by a party that is under security and military scrutiny,” Hawat said.
He stressed that his priority was not to protect himself, but to have the state protect him and all Lebanese citizens. He said he had full confidence in President Joseph Aoun and the government’s ability to implement their decisions, warning that failure to do so would make their promises ring hollow.
Hawat said his bloc had called in Parliament for an investigation into Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah, arguing that the party continued to intimidate Lebanese citizens and smuggle explosives. He urged the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to act as quickly as possible.
While describing the government’s rhetoric as very good, Hawat said words alone were not enough. He called for the appointment of a judge with the courage to pursue the explosives case without fear, citing Judge Tarek Bitar as an example.
‘Hezbollah is fighting the Lebanese, not Israel’
Hawat argued that Hezbollah’s confrontation was directed at fellow Lebanese rather than Israel, saying the party’s rhetoric was consistently aimed at its domestic opponents.
“What has its weapons achieved? We have seen what happened to its top three ranks. The weapons they claim are there to protect us have destroyed buildings, people and trees,” he said.
He added that, on top of Lebanon’s existing crises, Hezbollah had dragged the country into two wars that left widespread destruction. “The party’s mission is over, and it should hand over its weapons,” he said.
Hawat calls for investigation into Aqoura tunnel
Commenting on the tunnel discovered in Aqoura, Hawat said experts believed it had been dug a long time ago and contained no equipment. He put its length at 30 metres.
However, he stressed that these findings should not prevent the judiciary from examining all relevant files in order to protect Lebanon and its people.
“We can no longer accept anyone creating confusion and turmoil in the country,” he said.
Hawat also addressed the series of assassinations in Lebanon since 2005, claiming that C-4 explosives had been used in the attacks. He said this was not based on his own testimony, but on assessments by explosives experts.
“The party has a long record when it comes to assassinations,” he said, using an Arabic expression suggesting that Hezbollah is repeatedly implicated in such cases.
Hawat said the Lebanese Forces were developing a new vision for “Lebanon of Tomorrow,” adding that the immediate priorities were ending the war and placing Hezbollah’s weapons under state control.
He clarified that the dispute with Hezbollah was not solely about its weapons, but also about its ideology. Nevertheless, he stressed that this did not mean his party was at odds with the Shiite community.
“We have no problem with the Shiite community, and I am in daily contact with prominent Shiite figures,” he said.
“Hezbollah is acting with blatant impudence, with one of its MPs openly boasting about smuggling explosives. This is a clear-cut crime committed by a party that is under security and military scrutiny,” Hawat said.
He stressed that his priority was not to protect himself, but to have the state protect him and all Lebanese citizens. He said he had full confidence in President Joseph Aoun and the government’s ability to implement their decisions, warning that failure to do so would make their promises ring hollow.
Hawat said his bloc had called in Parliament for an investigation into Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah, arguing that the party continued to intimidate Lebanese citizens and smuggle explosives. He urged the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to act as quickly as possible.
While describing the government’s rhetoric as very good, Hawat said words alone were not enough. He called for the appointment of a judge with the courage to pursue the explosives case without fear, citing Judge Tarek Bitar as an example.
‘Hezbollah is fighting the Lebanese, not Israel’
Hawat argued that Hezbollah’s confrontation was directed at fellow Lebanese rather than Israel, saying the party’s rhetoric was consistently aimed at its domestic opponents.
“What has its weapons achieved? We have seen what happened to its top three ranks. The weapons they claim are there to protect us have destroyed buildings, people and trees,” he said.
He added that, on top of Lebanon’s existing crises, Hezbollah had dragged the country into two wars that left widespread destruction. “The party’s mission is over, and it should hand over its weapons,” he said.
Hawat calls for investigation into Aqoura tunnel
Commenting on the tunnel discovered in Aqoura, Hawat said experts believed it had been dug a long time ago and contained no equipment. He put its length at 30 metres.
However, he stressed that these findings should not prevent the judiciary from examining all relevant files in order to protect Lebanon and its people.
“We can no longer accept anyone creating confusion and turmoil in the country,” he said.
Hawat also addressed the series of assassinations in Lebanon since 2005, claiming that C-4 explosives had been used in the attacks. He said this was not based on his own testimony, but on assessments by explosives experts.
“The party has a long record when it comes to assassinations,” he said, using an Arabic expression suggesting that Hezbollah is repeatedly implicated in such cases.
Hawat said the Lebanese Forces were developing a new vision for “Lebanon of Tomorrow,” adding that the immediate priorities were ending the war and placing Hezbollah’s weapons under state control.
He clarified that the dispute with Hezbollah was not solely about its weapons, but also about its ideology. Nevertheless, he stressed that this did not mean his party was at odds with the Shiite community.
“We have no problem with the Shiite community, and I am in daily contact with prominent Shiite figures,” he said.
