Qassem: We Will Not Agree to Any Timeline for Weapons Surrender

SadaNews - The Secretary-General of "Hezbollah," Naim Qassem, stated today (Tuesday) that his party will not agree to any timeline for surrendering its weapons as long as the "Israeli aggression" against Lebanon continues, while the Lebanese Cabinet discusses the issue of state monopoly on weapons.

In a speech delivered via screen during a memorial ceremony organized by the party for an Iranian leader, Qassem said, "Any timeline proposed to be implemented under the umbrella of Israeli aggression cannot be approved by us," demanding that the state "develop plans to confront pressure and threats, and ensure protection," rather than "disarm its resistance of its ability and strength."

Qassem directly threatened Israel today, stating that missiles would fall on it if it resumes a full-scale war against Lebanon. He said that "Hezbollah," the Lebanese army, and the Lebanese people will defend themselves in the event that Israel launches "a wide-ranging aggression." He added, "This defense will lead to missiles falling inside the Israeli entity, and all the security they built over eight months will collapse in one hour."

The Lebanese Cabinet convened in its regular session at three o'clock this afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, and attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the ministers.

The council is discussing an agenda consisting of 10 items, the most important of which is to continue discussing the implementation of the government's ministerial statement, specifically regarding asserting the Lebanese state's sovereignty over all its territory exclusively with its own forces, and discussing arrangements related to halting the hostilities that took place during November 2024.

This session is witnessing unprecedented international and Arab follow-up, given the outcomes it will produce, which confirm what President Aoun committed to in his oath speech and the ministerial statement of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government, in addition to the Arab and international demands for the Lebanese state to assert its sovereignty over all its territory and establish a timeline for the withdrawal of "Hezbollah's" weapons.