The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, accused Lebanon’s government today of bowing to U.S.-Israeli interests over a plan to disarm the group.
“The government is executing an American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it drives the country into civil war and internal strife,” Qassem declared. “The resistance will not hand over its weapons as long as aggression and occupation continue — we will fight this… if necessary, at any cost.”
In his televised address, Qassem urged the state not to “fall into the hands of the Israeli aggressor or the American tyranny with its boundless greed.”
Emphasizing total rejection of disarmament, Qassem warned that the nation would lose any chance of survival if the government acted against Hezbollah. He said any confrontation would trigger massive reactions, including protests that could reach the U.S. Embassy.
Many Lebanese cities, especially in the south and around Beirut, remain heavily affected by past conflicts. The new government has ordered the army to draft a disarmament plan by year’s end under U.S. pressure.
The government argues the move aims to restore the state’s monopoly over arms in line with UN Resolution 1701, but Hezbollah insists it will not disarm until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory and halts airstrikes.
