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Internal Matter Hezbollah Chief Rejects Disarmament Talks Ahead of Washington Summit
Redline on Disarmament In a written statement today, Qassem asserted that Hezbollah's weaponry and the "resistance" are strictly internal Lebanese matters. He warned the Lebanese government against negotiating on these points, labeling any such discussion as a "pure gain for Israel
ND
by News Desk
2026-05-12
Internal Matter Hezbollah Chief Rejects Disarmament Talks Ahead of Washington Summit

In a defiant written statement broadcast on Al-Manar, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has drawn a hard line ahead of this week's diplomatic talks in Washington, declaring that the group's disarmament is strictly off the table.

Weapons are a "Red Line"

Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah’s arsenal and its "resistance" activities are internal Lebanese matters. He stated that no outside power—specifically Israel or the U.S.—has the right to negotiate the group's military status.

  • Opposition to Direct Talks: Qassem called on Lebanese authorities to withdraw from the direct negotiations scheduled for this Thursday and Friday, labeling the process as a series of "free concessions" that only benefit Israel.

  • Vow of Resistance: Addressing his fighters, he promised that the battlefield would be turned into "hell" for Israeli forces, asserting that the group would never surrender regardless of the cost.

The Diplomatic Divide

The statement highlights the massive gap between Hezbollah and the international community:

  • U.S. Position: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department have maintained that a lasting peace deal is only possible if the Lebanese state restores full authority and Hezbollah is completely disarmed.

  • The 2026 Context: While a fragile truce has been in place since April 17, both sides continue to trade fire. Israel maintains it has the right to act against "imminent threats," while Hezbollah claims its attacks are responses to Israeli violations.

  • Negotiation Stakes: Qassem noted that while the responsibility for sovereign negotiations lies with the Lebanese government, he believes the "Iranian-U.S. agreement" remains the strongest tool for stopping the current aggression.
Tagged:

#Hezbollah #NaimQassem #IsraelLebanon #WashingtonSummit2026 #BreakingNews #MiddleEastConflict #Disarmament #Resistance #LebanonPolitics #NationalSecurity #WarAlert #Geopolitics #Ceasefire2026 #Diplomacy #MiddleEastNews
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