Hezbollah: The Resistance’s Weapons Will Not Be Disarmed, Even If the World Unites in War

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem renewed his firm stance that the weapons of the resistance will not be disarmed, “even if the whole world unites in war against Lebanon”. He stressed that should war erupt, it “will not achieve its objectives”, calling on the Lebanese state to stop making concessions to the enemy.

Speaking during a Fatimid gathering marking the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima al Zahra, peace be upon her, Qassem said that “since the ceasefire agreement was concluded on 27 November 2024, we have entered a new phase that requires a different approach”. He explained that “the state has become responsible for sovereignty, protecting Lebanon, expelling the occupation, and deploying the army. The state is responsible for working to consolidate Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, while the resistance has done everything required of it in implementing this agreement and assisting the Lebanese state”.

Sheikh Qassem affirmed that “the agreement has been fully implemented on the Lebanese side, but on the Israeli side there has not been a single step toward implementation. We are looking beyond the agreement, and everything Israel is doing amounts to a continuation of aggression. This aggression is a danger to Lebanon and a danger to us”.

He stated that “the resistance is ready for the highest level of cooperation with the Lebanese Army, and it has helped it extend authority smoothly. It agrees to a defensive strategy that benefits from Lebanon’s strength and its resistance, but it is not prepared for any framework that leads to surrender to the Israeli entity and the American tyrant”.

Qassem added that “the problem facing the state is not the exclusive possession of weapons as a condition for rebuilding the country. The call for exclusive control of weapons in the manner currently being promoted is an American Israeli demand”. He stressed that “with surrender, Lebanon will not remain. Syria is before us as an example”.

He warned that “surrender leads to the disappearance of Lebanon”, noting that “with our unity and steadfastness, war may not occur. Servants of Israel inside Lebanon encourage it against their own country and their own people. In any case, if war occurs, it will not achieve its objectives, and this is clear to us”.

He continued, “If America is working for its interests in Lebanon, then be assured it will look for a solution. But if it does not care about Lebanon’s existence for the sake of Israel, then Lebanon will have no life, whether it surrenders or confronts and fights”.

Qassem declared, “Let America know that we will defend ourselves even if the sky closes in upon the earth. Weapons will not be taken to fulfil Israel’s objectives, even if the world unites in war against Lebanon. Understand this well: land, weapons, and spirit are one cohesive mixture. Any attempt to strip one of them or touch it means touching all three and seeking to strip them all. That is an execution of our existence, and we will not allow it. This will not happen”.

He called on the Lebanese state “to stop concessions, retreat, and to reassess its calculations”, saying, “Implement the agreement first, then discuss the defensive strategy. Do not ask us not to defend ourselves while the state is incapable of protecting its citizens. Let the state secure protection and sovereignty, and then we will place everything on the table of dialogue regarding the defensive strategy and reach a conclusion”.

Sheikh Qassem also addressed remarks by the US envoy Tom Barrack regarding “annexing Lebanon to Syria”, stating, “This is not idle talk. It is speech that lays the groundwork for the future. Barrack wants to annex Lebanon to Syria, so that minorities are lost in that vast Syrian sea or forced to emigrate. Know who will remain and who will not. This is a very dangerous project”.