Report: Bkirki Says Rahi's Remarks about Hizbullah Reflect Reality

Following statements made by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi about Hizbullah's possession of arms, which triggered a flurry of reactions, Bkirki sources defended the Patriarch and stressed that he has described a reality and will not reconsider his position, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Rahi has described the reality of the situation as for the Lebanese's separation over Hizbullah's involvement in fighting in Syria. He will not reconsider his position because everyone knows it's true,” Bkirki sources told al-Joumhouria on Tuesday.

“The Patriarch has not attacked Hizbullah, he only described things as they are. He stressed that the party is part of Lebanon's structure,” they pointed.

“Dialogue with Hizbullah has never been stopped. We only care about saving the situation and not drift into the unknown,” added the sources on condition of anonymity.

They however denied reports claiming that Rahi's remarks were in response to President Michel Aoun's defensive statements about Hizbullah, they said: “Relations between Baabda and Bkrirki are unwavering.”

In an interview with Sky News Arabia on Friday, Rahi stated that “Hizbullah has engaged in Syria's war without taking into consideration the State's dissociation policy. It has divided the Lebanese upon themselves, some supporting the step and others totally refusing it.”

Hizbullah has deployed thousands of militants to fight alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces against Islamist-led rebels and jihadists and many Hizbullah members have been killed in Syria since the start of the conflict.

The party argues that its intervention, which is controversial in Lebanon, was necessary to protect the country from extremist groups and to prevent the fall of Syria into the hands of hostile forces.