Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reiterated the Lebanese group’s stance that it will not discuss giving up its remaining weapons until Israel withdraws from the five border points it occupies in southern Lebanon and stops its airstrikes.
Qassem spoke on Sunday on the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
The speech came nearly six months after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a US-brokered ceasefire. Under the deal, Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials have said they plan to remain at the five points indefinitely to secure their border. Israel has also continued to carry out near-daily airstrikes in southern Lebanon and sometimes in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“We adhered completely” to the agreement, Qassem said, adding: “Don’t ask us for anything else from now on. Let Israel withdraw, stop its aggression, release the prisoners and fulfill all obligations under the agreement. After that, we will discuss each new development.”
