After his meeting with Le Drian, Samy Gemayel says Lebanon is at a turning point

BEIRUT — Lebanon stands at a critical juncture, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel said Wednesday, warning that Hezbollah’s decisions in the coming period could either stabilize the country or plunge it into further turmoil.

Gemayel issued the warning in a message on X following his meeting with France’s special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is on the third day of an official visit that began Monday.

“We are at a pivotal stage that could lead the country toward peace and stability and move us into a phase of hope for the future, or Lebanon could once again pay the price for delays. Responsibility falls again on Hezbollah, which neither has the capacity nor the means to confront Israel, especially after what it has endured. Maintaining arms serves no purpose,” said Gemayel, a vocal opponent of Hezbollah.

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He also criticized remarks made Dec. 5 by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who Gemayel said “admitted that keeping weapons north of the Litani River is not intended to defend Lebanon or liberate Palestine, but to intimidate the Lebanese and hold Lebanon hostage. Hezbollah arms itself to defend Iran, which means Hezbollah does not care about southern Lebanon.”

Protecting Lebanon from Israeli strikes

Qassem has said Hezbollah refuses to hand over its weapons, as requested by the Lebanese government since last August, while remaining open to internal dialogue about a “defense strategy.”

Gemayel said the Lebanese leadership, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, must take clear steps to disarm all militias outside the state framework. “The decision has been made; we now need to push for its implementation and take concrete measures if we want to protect Lebanon from Israeli strikes,” he said.

His stance echoes that of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who recently urged the government to stop “being lenient with Hezbollah.”

Despite a cease-fire reached in November 2024, Israel continues to bomb Lebanon almost daily and occupies several strategic positions in the South. Hezbollah cites these violations as justification for keeping its arms, while Tel Aviv says its strikes aim to prevent the party from rebuilding its forces. According to U.N. figures released in November, at least 132 civilians have been killed in the past year.

The Élysée's special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, began another stay in Beirut on Monday, his third since the January 2025 presidential election, to support and encourage Lebanon to move forward on the reforms required by the international community and, above all, on disarming Hezbollah. On the third day of his visit, he was also set to meet with Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab.

Le Drian, who has visited Beirut three times since the January 2025 presidential election, aims to support Lebanon in implementing reforms demanded by the international community, particularly regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament.

During this third day, he also met with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, for a meeting that “focused on the current situation, the ongoing Israeli threats, and the possibility of finding serious solutions to avoid any escalation,” according to a brief statement. The French envoy also spoke with Beirut independent MP Fouad Makhzoumi and Zgharta sovereignist MP Michel Mouawad for another round of discussions on the country’s issues.

“Things are not progressing easily because Hezbollah is making things difficult for the army and reaffirming its commitment to its weapons,” Gemayel said after meeting the French envoy. “It’s trying to excuse itself and rearm. But if the party committed to the army’s plan, things would be simpler for everyone. The main priority today is to spare Lebanon from war, and the negotiations launched by the president through Ambassador Karam are important.”