Hezbollah Leader Rejects Calls to Disarm Amid Israeli Strikes

Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, has firmly rejected demands for the group to disarm, declaring that Israeli threats and international pressure will not force Lebanon’s most powerful militant faction into submission.

His remarks come on the eve of a critical diplomatic visit by U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack, who is expected in Beirut on Monday to discuss Hezbollah’s future and push for its disarmament by the end of the year.

Speaking to a massive crowd gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs — a Hezbollah stronghold — Qassem delivered a defiant speech during Ashura, a significant Shiite religious observance. “This [Israeli] threat will not make us accept surrender,” he said in a televised address. His words drew loud applause from thousands of supporters.

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Qassem, who assumed leadership of Hezbollah following the death of longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last September, made it clear that the group has no intention of laying down arms. He accused Israel of ongoing aggression and insisted that disarmament is not an option unless such hostilities cease.

Lebanon’s current political leadership — installed after a brutal conflict between Hezbollah and Israel last year — has publicly committed to asserting state control over all weapons and military activity. These leaders have also continued to urge Israel to uphold the terms of a ceasefire reached in November, which was intended to end months of escalating cross-border attacks.

However, the ceasefire remains fragile. Israel has carried out multiple strikes inside Lebanon since the agreement, claiming it is targeting Hezbollah military infrastructure and operatives. Israeli officials argue that Beirut is not doing enough to dismantle the group’s armed presence, particularly in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.

Lebanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say they have begun efforts to demilitarize the region but acknowledge the complexities of confronting Hezbollah directly — an organization deeply entrenched in Lebanese society and backed by Iran.

As U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack prepares for high-stakes meetings with Lebanese authorities, the standoff over Hezbollah’s weapons remains one of the most contentious issues in Middle Eastern diplomacy. For now, Qassem’s speech signals that Hezbollah is not backing down — setting the stage for further tension as diplomacy and military realities collide once again in Lebanon.

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