Hezbollah will never accept disarmament: Sheikh Qassem
The Secretary General of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has reiterated that the group will never accept calls to lay down its arms.
In a speech on Sunday marking Liberation and Resistance Day, Sheikh Naim Qassem said that accepting calls from the US and its allies for Hezbollah to disarm would be tantamount to the annihilation of the group and Lebanon's defenses.
"Disarming the resistance would, in fact, strip Lebanon of its defensive capability and serve as a prelude to annihilation, something we will never accept," he said.
The cleric further criticized the Lebanese government for its weakness in dealing with the Israeli regime and its backers, saying the government is incapable of confronting the aggressors.
"We do not ask the government to confront the American-Israeli project, but at the very least, it should not serve as a tool to facilitate it. The Lebanese government must not stand against its own people, nor align its political objectives with Israel," said Sheikh Qassem.
He said that some people within the Lebanese government who have asked Hezbollah to lay down its weapons should know that such a move would enable Israel " to enter the country and massacre and displace its people."
The comments come as the pro-Western government of Lebanon has made efforts to force Hezbollah to relenquish its arms in what many believe is a move to appease the US.
The calls for Hezbollah's disarmament have come as part of a so-called peace process between the Israeli regime and Lebanon that began in November 2024 under a ceasefire intended to end Israeli attacks on the Arab country and allow Hezbollah to stop its retaliation.
Sheikh Qassem said, however, that the Israeli regime has continued to constantly violate the terms of the ceasefire reached nearly two years ago by launching repeated attacks on Lebanon, adding that the Lebanese government has been unable to enforce that agreement.
The Hezbollah chief further called on the government in Beirut to abandon direct negotiations with the Israeli regime, saying the only outcome of such talks would be to protect the pure interests of the Israeli regime.
Commenting on Iran's fight against the ongoing US-Israeli aggression, Sheikh Qassem said that the Iranians had humiliated the US and the Israeli regime both during the 39-day aggression that ended with a ceasefire in early April and afterward.
"Iran, with its leadership, people, and Revolutionan Guards, has managed to stand against so much oppression and humiliate the US," he said.
He said that Iran will emerge from the war of aggression as "an exceptional power with international standing, on which the free peoples of the world will rely."
Iran condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon that killed paramedics, journalist
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon injure soldier amid ceasefire violations
Araghchi reaffirms Iran's unflinching support for Hezbollah in message to Sheikh Qassem
Israel expanding forced displacement policies to empty Gaza: Rights group
Iran, Oman discuss Hormuz maritime rules amid ongoing US talks
Iran strongly condemns terrorist attack on Pakistan's Quetta train station
Hezbollah will never accept disarmament: Sheikh Qassem
European activists from Gaza flotilla recount torture, sexual assaults by Israeli forces
Leader’s advisor: Iran will break US naval blockade, exit NPT if attacked again
Iran questions world's commitment to preventing genocide over arms exports to Israel
US wartime demands collapse, leaving Trump empty-handed as regional power shifts: Ex-diplomat
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
