Beirut: Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel stated that Hezbollah’s refusal to relinquish its weapons is merely ‘populist rhetoric’ and amounts to ‘media posturing.’ He emphasized that the process of transferring arms to the Lebanese Army, both south and north of the Litani River, is advancing smoothly and without opposition.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Gemayel, in an interview with Kuwait’s Al-Anbaa newspaper, asserted that the government’s decision to consolidate control over arms is final and ‘irreversible.’ He warned that armed groups outside state authority should not believe they can pressure the government into retracting or applying rules selectively for their purposes.
Gemayel highlighted that this initiative is not reminiscent of the Taif Accord, orchestrated under Syrian influence by Hezbollah, referring to Lebanon’s 1989 peace agreement. He urged opponents of the government’s weapons collection decision to recognize that Lebanon is on an unavoidable path toward transformation.
He commended President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, alongside a competent cabinet, for restoring Lebanon’s international credibility and enhancing confidence in the nation’s reform agenda. This has been further supported by upcoming conferences in October and November aimed at bolstering the army’s financial and military capacities, as well as the ‘Beirut 1’ conference to stimulate investments across various Lebanese sectors.
Gemayel emphasized that Kataeb and other sovereignist forces are primarily relying on their own efforts to support the state, while also welcoming initiatives from Arab, European, and Western partners. He stressed the importance of encouraging these initiatives from Gulf Arab states, the United States, and the European Union, led by France.
He reiterated his party’s demands for Israel to withdraw from territories occupied during the recent war, release Lebanese detainees, and fully respect the ceasefire, as Lebanon has done. He called on Lebanon’s allies to exert their influence with Israel to ensure these commitments are honored.
Gemayel concluded by reaffirming his party’s support for the army as a cornerstone of state-building. He assured that, together with President Aoun and the government, they are providing all necessary support to strengthen the army’s capacity and extend state authority across Lebanese territory. With unprecedented Arab support, he expressed confidence that the Lebanese Army will soon emerge as one of the region’s formidable forces.