Hezbollah says calls to disarm serve “Israel’s” interests

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem reaffirmed the group’s refusal to surrender its weapons, declaring that Lebanon will never be subordinate to “Israel”, even if the whole world unites in support of such a move.

Speaking on Wednesday during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the death of senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr (Sayyed Mohsen), Qassem said that any call to disarm the resistance today is effectively a call to hand over weapons to the Israeli Occupation.

Qassem insisted that Hezbollah’s arms are a “purely internal Lebanese matter” and warned against any foreign interference in the issue.

Addressing the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli Occupation, Qassem acknowledged that the deal initially brought gains to both sides. However, he accused "Israel" of repeatedly violating the terms and issuing ongoing threats, blaming both Tel Aviv and Washington for the deteriorating situation.

Qassem also emphasized that Hezbollah remains a key political and social force in Lebanon, suggesting that this strength is one reason for "Israel’s" breaches of the agreement.

He concluded with a warning that Lebanon faces an existential threat from the Israeli Occupation, the United States, and the Islamic State (ISIS), describing them as challenges that require national resistance and unity.