Lebanese Muslim Scholars Assembly Condemns U.S. Insults Against Lebanon, Continued Israeli Aggression

The statement criticized U.S. envoy Tom Barrack for not only insulting the Lebanese people but also brazenly labeling the Lebanese government as “failed.”

According to the Assembly, these remarks stem from Lebanon’s refusal to comply with American demands to provoke internal conflict by disarming the resistance, and its rejection of normalization with the Zionist regime—an act the Assembly views as surrender.

The Assembly noted the silence of those who claim to defend “national sovereignty,” pointing out that if such comments had come from the Islamic Republic of Iran, there would have been a political uproar. Yet, when the insult comes from a U.S. official, no reaction is deemed necessary.
The statement also condemned the daily Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, including a deadly strike in Kafr Rumman that killed five people—one of whom had previously lost both eyes in the al-Bijar massacre. Despite these violations, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry has not submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council or requested a condemnation session, even if such efforts would likely be blocked by a U.S. veto.
The Assembly praised President Joseph Aoun for instructing the Lebanese Army to confront Israeli incursions and called on him to convene the Supreme Defense Council to formalize this stance as a national security decision. “This is not a declaration of war,” the statement clarified, “but a legitimate act of self-defense.”
Following their internal and regional review, the Assembly declared: Condemnation of Israeli Violations:
The Assembly denounced repeated breaches of the ceasefire and UN Resolution 1701, including drone strikes on civilian vehicles in eastern al-Duwair (Nabatieh), which killed one person and injured seven, and attacks in Aita al-Shaab and Kroum al-Marrah in Meiss al-Jabal. Support for Reconstruction Efforts: The Assembly commended Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for organizing the first coordination meeting for reconstruction, calling it a hopeful step in response to government inaction and a voice for displaced citizens seeking dignified return. Salute to Palestinian Resistance: The Assembly praised the bravery of Palestinian fighters in the West Bank, particularly during clashes in Qabatiya, and condemned the Israeli military’s use of booby-trapped toys to target children—calling it a blatant violation of human rights and a sign of Zionist brutality. Rejection of Syrian Participation in U.S.-Led Coalition: The Assembly condemned Syria’s decision to join the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, viewing it as a betrayal of the resistance axis and a step toward normalization with Israel, contrary to the will of the Syrian people.