Hezbollah’s new leader Naim Qassem on Sunday ruled out surrendering or disarming in the face of Israeli threats, declaring that his fighters will hold onto their weapons until Israel halts its “aggression.”
Speaking to thousands of supporters during a televised Ashura address in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, Qassem stated defiantly:
“This threat will not make us accept surrender.”
The remarks come amid renewed calls from international and Lebanese officials for Hezbollah to disarm, especially after last year’s destructive war with Israel. Despite a November ceasefire, Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have continued, with Tel Aviv insisting it’s targeting Hezbollah sites and accusing Beirut of failing to rein in the Iran-backed group.
Qassem—who assumed leadership after the death of longtime Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike last September—warned that disarmament is not on the table until Israel fulfills its end of the truce.
“Israel must withdraw from occupied territories, stop its aggression, release prisoners, and reconstruction must begin,” he said. “Only then can we move to the next phase—discussing national defense and security strategy.”
Under the ceasefire terms, Hezbollah is expected to move its fighters north of the Litani River, roughly 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. In exchange, Israel was to withdraw completely from Lebanese territory. However, Israeli forces remain stationed at five disputed strategic points.
Lebanese officials say they are working to dismantle Hezbollah’s southern military infrastructure but acknowledge ongoing friction with the group. A senior Lebanese source, speaking anonymously, confirmed that US envoy Tom Barrack is expected in Beirut on Monday to press for Hezbollah’s disarmament by year’s end.
Ahead of Qassem’s speech, supporters dressed in black marched through the streets, waving Hezbollah, Lebanese, Palestinian, and Iranian flags, with many carrying images of Nasrallah.
Qassem also rejected any move toward normalization with Israel, after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar recently said his government was “interested” in warming ties with regional adversaries.
“We will not accept normalization with the Israeli enemy,” Qassem said.
Lebanon, which remains technically at war with Israel, has not responded to the statement. Syria, also mentioned in Saar’s comments, dismissed normalization as “premature.”
As regional tensions simmer, Hezbollah’s message is clear: any discussion of laying down arms will only come after concrete steps from Israel—steps Qassem and his supporters don’t believe have even begun.
