Hezbollah reiterated on Saturday its rejection of attempts to disarm it days after the government vowed to kick off the second phase of the plan to impose state monopoly over arms.
The first phase called for limiting weapons to the state south of the Litani River and the second phase covers regions north of the river.
In a televised address, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared on Saturday that the new phase demands that the ceasefire with Israel be implemented in full.
“Lebanon carried out its end of the deal and the resistance [Hezbollah] ensured that not a single violation was committed by Lebanon,” he added.
Lebanon and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024 that ended a war between the Iran-backed party and Israel.
Moreover, Qassem said the ceasefire “is actually a single phase, and it has no second phase.” The Lebanese state fulfilled its end of the deal, while Israel has not met any of its commitments.
“It is unreasonable for us to give Israel any concessions without anything in return,” he went on to say.
Imposing state monopoly over arms is actually an Israeli and American demand to weaken the resistance, he charged.
“Offering more concessions is a form of weakness,” he stressed.
“Our weapons aim to defend ourselves, resistance, people and nation,” Qassem declared.
He also warned that “killings and abductions may happen anywhere if the arms are surrendered.”
Defying calls to disarm, he said: “We will maintain the resistance. Lebanon cannot exist without the resistance. It was liberated because of the resistance.”
Qassem also slammed Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi for saying last week that Israel has the right to act militarily if Hezbollah did not disarm in full.
“In whose name does this foreign minister speak?” asked Qassem. “He is basing his stance on the humiliating ceasefire that you signed after the ‘support war’.”
Hezbollah launched the support front in October 2023 to back Hamas in its conflict with Israel in Gaza. The border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel turned into a full-blown war nearly a year later, with Israel decimating the party’s leadership. The war ended with the November 2024 ceasefire.
Qassem accused Raggi of violating the state’s policies, undermining civil peace, and stoking strife. He also said the minister was working against the president, government, Lebanese people and resistance.
“The government will be held responsible” for the FM’s stances, he warned, urging it to “replace or silence him or obligate him to abide by Lebanon’s policies.”
Qassem’s statements were swiftly condemned by Lebanese Forces MP Ghayath Yazbeck.
In a post on the X platform, he slammed Qassem for “verbally” and “morally” assaulting LF ministers, “in complete disregard of ethical principles”.
He warned that Qassem’s remarks may be a prelude to the assassination of the ministers and “the assassination of the Lebanese state.”
“Our ministers represent dignity, sovereignty and the state,” he stressed. Indirectly addressing Qassem, he said: “Act smart. Your predecessors made these mistakes and ended up in history’s trash bin. Haven’t you learned anything?”
