Lebanese politician says Shiite community is victim of Hezbollah, calls for ‘intifada’ - report

Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel has urged Lebanon's Shiite community to launch an "intifada" against Hezbollah, stating that the community is being held hostage by the group. Gemayel expressed this sentiment during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Press Editors’ Syndicate, according to Lebanese media reports.

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There was no solution to the conflict that Lebanon could alone solve.

Gemayel asserted that no solution to the conflict could be found solely within Lebanon. He also noted that the situation is significantly dependent on broader regional developments, particularly Iran's influence. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and adheres to the principle of Wilayat al-Faqih, is expected to continue acting on Tehran's instructions, making Lebanon's internal situation intrinsically linked to regional dynamics.

Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite political and militant group, receives significant backing from Iran. Gemayel's call for an uprising suggests a deep division within the Shiite community and a desire to separate the community from Hezbollah's political and military influence. He reportedly approached Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah through the Amal Movement, to discuss engaging the Shiite community on this separation, but Berri allegedly shut down the conversation.

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Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and holds loyalty to the ayatollah as a central pillar of its ideology under Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), will continue to act on Tehran’s instructions, he said, making Lebanon’s situation dependent on wider regional developments.

While Gemayel supports the US-backed peace framework between Israel and Lebanon, he recognizes the complex geopolitical factors at play. The call for an "intifada" highlights the internal tensions within Lebanon and the significant role Iran plays in supporting groups like Hezbollah, which in turn shapes the country's political landscape and its relationship with regional powers.

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The Shiite population was being held hostage to Hezbollah and there should, therefore, be an “intifada” (uprising) against the group.