Geagea Hits Back at Assad over Lebanon's Dissociation Policy

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea snapped back Thursday at Syrian President Bashar Assad over the latter's criticism of Lebanon's so-called dissociation policy.

“Lebanon's continuation of its dissociation policy is specifically in Assad's interest, because 'should Lebanon speak' it will definitely be against him,” Geagea said in a statement.

In an interview with Syria's al-Watan newspaper, Assad has noted that “Lebanon cannot dissociate itself from the blazes that are raging around it.”

“It cannot endorse 'the policy of no policy' or what has been called the dissociation policy,” Assad said.

Although the Lebanese state has officially adopted the dissociation policy, Hizbullah has sent thousands of fighters into the neighboring country to help Assad fight an Islamist-led uprising.

The party has argued that its controversial intervention was necessary to protect Lebanese border towns from extremist groups.