Hezbollah leader publicly rejects Israel's disarmament demand
Photo: Hezbollah leader declares refusal to disarm (Getty Images)
A new conflict is brewing in Lebanese politics, as one of the country’s influential leaders has made a bold statement that could shape future tensions in the region, according to TRTGlobal.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has declared that the group will not disarm, despite pressure from Israel and the United States. His statement came ahead of a planned visit to Lebanon by US envoy Thomas Barrack, who is expected to meet with Lebanese officials on Monday, July 7.
Addressing thousands of supporters in a southern suburb of Beirut, one of Hezbollah’s strongholds, Qassem emphasized that the group has no intention of surrendering or giving up its weapons.
Qassem stated that threats from Israel will not break the group’s resolve. He insisted that Hezbollah will remain steadfast in defending its interests, even under external pressure.
"This (Israeli) threat will not make us accept surrender," Qassem said in a televised speech to thousands of his supporters in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, during the Shia Muslim religious commemoration of Ashura.
The issue of disarming the powerful Shiite group Hezbollah remains a source of heated debate both within Lebanon and on the international stage.
On June 28, the IDF eliminated Hassan Mohammad Hamoudi, a key Hezbollah figure in charge of anti-tank missiles.
Shortly afterward, Israeli forces killed another Hezbollah operative, Abbas al-Hassan Wahbi.
Israeli airstrikes also destroyed a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, which the militants had attempted to rebuild in violation of prior agreements.
