Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday his group would not surrender or lay down its weapons in response to Israeli threats, despite pressure on the Lebanese militants to disarm.
His speech came ahead of a visit expected Monday by US envoy Thomas Barrack, during which Lebanese authorities are due to respond to a request to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end, according to a Lebanese official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“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 Shiite Muslim religious commemoration of Ashura.
Lebanese leaders who took office in the aftermath of a war between Israel and Hezbollah last year that left the Iran-backed group severely weakened have repeatedly vowed a state monopoly on bearing arms, while demanding Israel comply with a November ceasefire that sought to end the hostilities.
Qassem, who succeeded longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah after an Israeli strike killed him in September, said the group’s fighters would not abandon their arms and asserted that Israel’s “aggression” must first stop.
Israel has continued to strike Lebanon despite the November ceasefire, saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives and accusing Beirut of not doing enough to disarm the group.
Lebanese authorities say they have been dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the south, near the Israeli border.
Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli frontier.
Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but has kept them deployed in five areas that it deemed strategic.
Qassem said Israel must abide by the ceasefire agreement, “withdraw from the occupied territories, stop its aggression… release the prisoners” detained during last year’s war, and that reconstruction in Lebanon must begin.
Only then “will we be ready for the second stage, which is to discuss the national security and defence strategy” which includes the issue of the group’s disarmament, he added.
Supporters dressed in black for Ashura marched through Beirut’s southern suburbs before his speech, waving Hezbollah banners as well as the Lebanese, Palestinian and Iranian flags.
Some also carried posters of the slain leader Nasrallah.
Hussein Jaber, 28, originally from south Lebanon, said the group’s weapons “can’t be handed over, not now, not later. Those who think Hezbollah will turn in its arms are ignorant.”
In his speech, Qassem also said his movement “will not accept normalisation… with the Israeli enemy”, after Israel’s top diplomat said his government was “interested” in such a move.
Lebanon, which is technically still at war with Israel, did not comment.
Syria, also mentioned by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, said it was “premature” to discuss normalisation.
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, A man of wide horizons and deep intentions". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
