Hezbollah Resists Disarmament Amid U.S. Pressure
Hezbollah's leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, firmly rejected calls for disarmament, linking them to serving Israel's interests. As the U.S. pressures Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah before peace talks, internal and external forces push for compromise. This development follows heavy losses for Hezbollah from a recent conflict with Israel.
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- Lebanon
In a bold televised address on Wednesday, Hezbollah's leader Sheikh Naim Qassem made it clear that any calls for the disarmament of the Iran-aligned militant group played into the hands of Israel. He emphasized that submitting Hezbollah's weapons would mean giving in to Israeli demands, a stance firmly opposed by the organization.
Hezbollah suffered extensive losses in a recent war with Israel, losing much of its leadership and uprooting thousands of its fighters and supporters. U.S. officials are currently pressing Lebanon to commit to disarming Hezbollah to pave the way for a halt to Israeli military actions on Lebanese soil, according to sources.
Despite public resistance, Hezbollah is privately contemplating the reduction of its arsenal. Qassem accused U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack of advocating for disarmament solely for Israel's benefit. He dismissed this, reiterating Hezbollah's resilience against both Israeli and American pressures in Lebanon.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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