Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that disarming the group is unacceptable and would serve the interests of Israel [1].
This stance deepens the tension between the group and those advocating for a state monopoly on force in Lebanon. The refusal to relinquish weapons maintains a parallel military structure that operates independently of the national army, complicating domestic governance and international diplomacy.
During a meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Jan. 11, 2026 [1], Qassem addressed the proposal to limit weaponry exclusively to the Lebanese Armed Forces. He said that such a move at this stage would be an attempt to target the resistance [1].
Qassem said the push for arms exclusivity is a strategic benefit for Israel [1]. He said it is "too long a stretch" to suggest the group should be stripped of its weapons [1].
According to reports from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Qassem said Hezbollah will not surrender and will instead choose the path of defense [2]. The meeting took place at a presidential headquarters in Lebanon [1].
The Secretary-General's comments reinforce the group's long-standing position that its arsenal is a necessary deterrent against external threats. By framing the disarmament process as a service to a foreign adversary, Qassem aligns the group's military autonomy with national security interests [1].
“"Exclusivity of weapons at this stage is a targeting of the resistance and a service to Israel."”
Qassem's refusal to disarm signals a continued rejection of the Lebanese state's authority over national security. By linking the Lebanese army's exclusivity of arms to Israeli interests, Hezbollah frames its autonomy not as a challenge to the state, but as a shield for the country, effectively stalling efforts to integrate the group into a traditional state military framework.
