Hezbollah vows defiance amid Israeli disarmament demands
Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, declared on Sunday that the group will not surrender or disarm despite mounting pressure from Israel and international demands. Speaking to a crowd of thousands during the Shia Muslim Ashura commemoration in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, Qassem emphasized their steadfastness in the face of Israeli threats.
“This threat will not make us accept surrender,” Qassem affirmed during his televised address, underscoring Hezbollah’s refusal to relinquish arms until what he described as Israel’s “aggression” ceases. Qassem assumed leadership of the Iran-backed group following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli operation last September.
The speech comes amid intensifying diplomatic efforts, with US envoy Tom Barrack expected in Beirut on Monday. Lebanese officials are reportedly preparing a response to Barrack’s demand for Hezbollah’s disarmament, an issue that remains highly contentious. One anonymous Lebanese official indicated that a deadline for disarmament negotiations has been set for the end of the year.
Lebanese authorities claim to have been dismantling Hezbollah’s military presence in the country’s south, near the Israeli border. However, Israel continues to conduct strikes in the region, asserting that Beirut is not doing enough to curb the group’s influence. Despite the November ceasefire agreement that ended last year’s conflict, tensions persist. The agreement stipulated that Hezbollah withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, while Israel was to fully withdraw its forces from Lebanon. Yet, Israel has maintained control over five strategic points, further fueling disputes.
As Lebanon grapples with internal and external challenges, the question of Hezbollah’s role in the country’s political and military landscape remains a focal point of regional tensions.
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