Hezbollah chief says disarming resistance serves US-Israeli project
TEHRAN (Iran News) In a speech on Sunday, Qassem said proposals framed as “exclusive state control of weapons” amounted in practice to an explicit US-Israeli plan to weaken Lebanon’s military capabilities, undermine a large segment of Lebanese society, and drive a wedge between Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement.
He said the initiative also aimed to stir internal strife, entrench Israeli occupation at five border point,s and allow continued killings without accountability.
Qassem compared Lebanon with Syria, saying Lebanon’s state institutions had succeeded because the resistance stood alongside them, while Syria’s government had failed in the absence of such a force.
Referring to a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon more than a year ago, he said Lebanon, through its government and army, had honored its commitments and made multiple concessions, while Israel had failed to meet its obligations and continued military attacks and security incursions.
He criticized the stance of some political factions that, in his words, overlooked Israel’s obligations while using the agreement to press further demands on Hezbollah and Lebanon.
Qassem said no new steps should be expected from Lebanon at any level unless Israel first fulfils its commitments, adding that the era of one-sided demands on Lebanon was over.
He said Lebanon faced a decisive choice between accepting full US-Israeli tutelage over the country or pursuing a national mobilization to restore sovereignty, territory, and state authority.
The Hezbollah chief said a complete halt to Israeli air, land, and sea attacks, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of detainees, and the start of reconstruction in southern Lebanon were prerequisites for any political or security discussions.
He warned that the loss of southern Lebanon would put the entire country at risk, saying all Lebanese shared a responsibility for defending the region.
- source : irna
