A statement was issued by the head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea:

“The decision taken today by the Lebanese government to instruct the Lebanese Army and relevant security agencies to firmly and effectively assert state authority in the Beirut Governorate, to collect all illegal and unauthorized weapons, and not to leave matters unattended, in order to protect Beirut and its residents and prevent a repeat of yesterday’s events, is a decision that strikes at the heart of the problem.

It is true that this government step is only the first on a long road, but it is a highly significant step supported by the majority of Lebanese. The army and the relevant security forces can no longer claim a lack of political decision to assert state authority effectively, even if initially limited to the Beirut Governorate.

The Lebanese Army, the relevant security forces, and the competent judicial authorities are called upon to implement the government’s decision without delay, in a way that restores the Lebanese citizen’s confidence that there is a state in Lebanon that protects them, looks after their affairs, and ensures that they are not left to their own fate.”