Kataeb Leader Urges Shiite Intifada as Lebanon-Israel Disarmament Talks Advance

Kataeb Party head Sami Gemayel told a delegation of the Lebanese Press Editors’ Syndicate that Lebanon’s Shi’ite community is “being held hostage” by Hezbollah and should launch an “intifada” against the group. He said the Shi’ite population must separate itself from Hezbollah while negotiations aimed at ending the Israel-Lebanon conflict and disarming the militia continue. Gemayel added that he had approached Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss how to communicate this separation, but Berri “quickly shut down” the discussion.

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The push for Hezbollah’s disarmament stems from a U.S.-brokered agreement reached on June 26, linking Israel’s phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the verified dismantling of Hezbollah’s arsenal. Recent talks in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli officials focused on implementing that deal, including the creation of “pilot zones” where Lebanese forces could demonstrate the ability to contain Hezbollah without further Israeli military presence.

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On August 7, Lebanese officials announced a shortlist of countries to provide troops that would verify Hezbollah’s disarmament. The United States is expected to select one or more of those states. A Lebanese official emphasized that only sovereign states—not private security firms—are being considered and that the deployment framework would need to be coordinated with the Lebanese army, possibly under a United Nations mechanism.

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• Sami Gemayel framed the Shi’ite community as victims of Hezbollah and urged an uprising.

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• Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, rejected Gemayel’s proposal and ended the dialogue.

The Media Line

• David Schenker, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, described Hezbollah’s actions as “a lot of background noise” but affirmed Beirut’s commitment to the disarmament process despite domestic criticism. He warned that hesitation to search private Shi’ite homes for weapons could jeopardize the pilot-zone strategy.

The Jerusalem Post

• A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the technical talks were “productive,” without providing further details.

The Straits Times

Hezbollah has condemned the Lebanon-Israel talks, warning they could trigger civil war and urging Lebanese officials to allow Iran and its allies to pressure the United States to halt Israeli operations. The group’s refusal to participate in the verification process underscores its opposition to external pressure on its armaments.

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• An Israeli Defense Forces soldier was “moderately wounded” by shrapnel during an operation in southern Lebanon.

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• Lebanese authorities reported two civilians wounded in a drone strike in the Kfar Reman area.

The Media Line

• The United States is slated to choose verification troops from the shortlist before the August 7 deadline.

The Straits Times

• A further round of Lebanon-Israel talks is scheduled for early September to address remaining issues, including the next Israeli withdrawal area and the handover of towns such as Bint Jbeil and Khiam.

The Straits Times

• The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) faces a mandate expiration at year-end, prompting discussions about a new U.N. Security Council resolution for future peacekeeping forces.

The Straits Times

• “The Lebanese Armed Forces are no doubt, I think, hesitant to be kicking down the doors of private Shiite homes in Lebanon,” — David Schenker

The Jerusalem Post

These developments illustrate the fragile balance Lebanon faces: internal calls for a Shiite uprising against Hezbollah, diplomatic efforts to verify disarmament, and regional dynamics shaping the country’s path toward stability.

The Jerusalem Post