Editing Samir Geagea (section)

=== Assassination attempt (2012) ===
On 4 April 2012, at approximately 11:30 am, gunshots were heard in Geagea's Maarab complex. Geagea's security forces scouted the area, and found shells belonging to a 12.7 caliber sniper rifle, a high-tech rifle produced only by the United States and/or Russia, not available in the Lebanese infantries, the Lebanese Armed Forces or the black market, suggesting that the gun could only be obtained by one powerful party.  Speculators claim the perpetrators to be pro-Syrian forces, most likely Hezbollah. Account of the story, as described in the press conference immediately following the attempt, claim Geagea to have been walking outside in the garden surrounding his mansion. Geagea bent over to pick up a flower, while bent over, Geagea heard gunshots, and immediately lay low on the ground, while his security forces took care of the situation. At the location where the shot would have killed him, two bullets had pierced through the wall. They claim the shooters to have been at least a kilometer away, stationed west of the residence (but the body guards were unable to see them due to the thick trees), and the operation to have been planned for months to silence Geagea, the only strong vocal critic against the Syrian/Iranian forces and the incumbent government. The Lebanese security forces have uncovered that a nine-member assassination team divided into three groups was involved in the killing attempt; two of the three groups were in charge of firing on Geagea.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Accounts of Samir Geagea's Assassination Attempt|newspaper=Naharnet|access-date=4 April 2012|date=4 April 2012|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/35709-geagea-confirms-assassination-attempt-we-won-t-halt-our-revolution-no-matter-how-hard-they-try}}</ref>

The [[United States]] condemned the assassination attempt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/04/187502.htm|title=Assassination Attempt Against Samir Geagea}}</ref>