THE MOUNT LEBANON TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL
ANNOUNCES ITS FORMATION,
DECLARES THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON HAS ABDICATED SOVEREIGNTY SOUTH OF THE LITANI,
AND ABANDONED
CHRISTIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

New York, April 6, 2026

The Mount Lebanon Transitional Council announces its official formation as a political body representing the Maronite, Syriac, and indigenous Christian communities of Lebanon.

The Council declares that the Republic of Lebanon has abdicated sovereignty south of the Litani River, leaving Christian communities without state protection and exposed to non-state armed groups.

The Council will initiate urgent diplomatic engagement with the United States, Israel, France, and the United Nations to address the governance and security crisis affecting these communities.

Composed of members from the homeland and the diaspora, the Council is committed to advancing the survival, dignity, and self-determination of Lebanon’s indigenous Christian communities, while engaging all relevant actors on the future of the country.

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LEADERSHIP AND FOUNDING MEMBERS

Sheikh Sami Khoury
President Emeritus
President of the World Maronite Union, former President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union.

Henry Zakaria
Vice President
Founder of the Mount Lebanon Project, focused on political advocacy and Christian representation.

Lina Elias
Political Advisor
Fulbright Scholar, Ph.D. in Environmental Human Rights, specialist in international policy.

Elige Yohanna
Public Policy and Advocacy
Advocate for family, community, and technology policy.

Clay Hanna
Major (Ret.), U.S. Army, MBA, J.D., Regent Law School (May 2026)

Franck Salameh
Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Boston College, Ph.D. Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University

Robert Juhanan
Syriac Affairs
President of the American Syriac Union.