Hezbollah Secretary General Naïm Qasim said making the disarmament of the resistance a precondition for any agreement means the death of Lebanon's strength [1].
This stance signals a significant hurdle for international mediators seeking a diplomatic resolution, as the group views its arsenal as the primary deterrent against external aggression. By rejecting disarmament, Qasim said the group's military capacity is essential to national security.
Qasim called for a comprehensive cease-fire that covers all of Lebanon, rather than one limited only to the south [1, 3, 6]. He said any security path framed as a cease-fire that effectively requires the group to stop its operations would be a form of surrender and defeat [3].
The leader also addressed the nature of ongoing diplomatic efforts. He said the results of direct negotiations, which he described as absurd and humiliating for Lebanon, are rejected by wide segments of the Lebanese people [2].
According to Qasim, stripping the resistance of its weapons would leave the nation vulnerable. He said the goal of any agreement should not be the removal of the group's military capabilities, as that would undermine the country's ability to defend itself [1].
This public rejection comes amid continued pressure for a stable security arrangement along the border. Qasim's rhetoric emphasizes a refusal to accept terms that he believes would weaken the state's strategic position in the region.
“making the disarmament of the resistance a precondition for any agreement 'means the death of Lebanon's strength'”
Qasim's statements reinforce a long-standing Hezbollah doctrine that its military autonomy is non-negotiable. By framing disarmament as a national security threat rather than a political concession, the group increases the difficulty for mediators to reach a deal that satisfies international demands for the Lebanese state to have a monopoly on armed force.
