“What happened in Beirut and its surroundings and the international airport is an armed coup carried out by Hezbollah, a coup against the constitution and the Taif Agreement and the charter of coexistence and international resolutions, and most recently resolution 1701, [a coup] aimed at the … Lebanese state and … democracy, pluralism and freedoms,” said Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on behalf of the March 14 alliance.

On Friday, former MP Fares Soueid, the March 14 General Secretariat coordinator, called for an emergency meeting of the pro-government alliance  
at Geagea’s home in Maarab, after which the LF leader read a statement announcing the forces position in the violent clashes between opposition and government supports that have terrorized the residents of Beirut since Wednesday.

“This blatant coup has completely stripped Hezbollah’s arms of their legitimacy and stripped it of their label as the resistance,” the statement said, noting that Hezbollah had in fact used its weapons at home and against their fellow Lebanese citizens. Hezbollah gunmen have clashed with their pro-government foes, also armed, as they took control over most of western Beirut and began to move towards Aley on Friday evening.

“The use of arms has led to the fall of arms,” Geagea said, adding that the Lebanese capital was attacked by weapons sent by Tehran.  “The innocent civilians of Beirut have no weapons but their honor and love for their nation. “
 
 “Beirut did not fall under Israeli invasion, and it will not fall today,” he added. 

The conferees confirmed March 14’s categorical refusal of revolutionary violence and the use of force against the Lebanese as “using arms against the Lebanese has never resulted in victory in Lebanon.”

“In light of this coup on constitutional legitimacy… the Lebanese army is strongly invited to fulfill the military establishment’s primary responsibility in protecting civilians and private and public property to set an end to … violence,” March 14 said.

Notably, the pro-government forces condemned Hezbollah’s targeting of the media and journalists and the burning of press offices in Beirut.

The alliance called on Arab countries to exercise their responsibilities toward Lebanon, adding that Hezbollah’s “coup” was an attempt to reinstall Syria in Lebanon. The statement also urged the international community to pressure neighboring countries that “pass arms to Lebanon.”

The Maarab gathering concluded by confirming their commitment to the principles of the Cedar Revolution, “from sovereignty to independence,” and renewing their promise to the Lebanese to continue the path. They also said the alliance stood by the “constitutional Lebanese government, headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.”

“The use of violence will not save Lebanon.”

-Now Staff