Lebanese Christian leader slams Hezbollah over fighting with Israel

His comments came as Western diplomats try to broker a de-escalation in the border conflict amid fears of a wider war

Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea blasted Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel to back up its ally Hamas, saying it has harmed Lebanon without making a dent in Israel’s crushing offensive in the Gaza Strip (Hussein Malla/AP)

The leader of a main Christian political party in Lebanon has blasted Shiite militant group Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel to back up its ally, Hamas, saying it has harmed Lebanon without making a dent in Israel’s crushing offensive in the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday night, Samir Geagea, of the Lebanese Forces Party, said Hezbollah should withdraw from areas along the border with Israel, and the Lebanese army should deploy in all points where militants of the Iran-backed group have taken positions.