UN Chief Guterres concerned about Hezbollah’s hold on“sophisticated military capabilities”

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Calling for a free and fair election as Lebanon heads to the polls on May 15, United Nations director general Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the hold that Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese terror goup and political party, has on “sophisticated military capabilities” the government has no control over, i24 News reports.

Lebanon is a deeply troubled and divided country that saw renewed protests and sectarian violence after the devastating Beirut port explosion in 2020. Hezbollah subsequently interfered with an investigation into the incident, calling for the removal of lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar after he tried to question the terror group’s allies, i24 said.

According to The Washington Post (WaPO), Guterres said in a statement that Hezbollah’s “sophisticated military capabilities outside the control of the government of Lebanon” continue to be “a matter of grave concern.”

Guterres called on the Lebanese government to “increase its efforts to achieve a monopoly over the possession of weapons and the use of force throughout its territory,” WaPo reported.

“I continue to urge the government and the armed forces of Lebanon to take all measures necessary to prohibit Hezbollah and other armed groups from acquiring weapons and building paramilitary capacity outside the authority of the state,” Guterres said.

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