Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Naim Qassem, reiterated on Saturday that the group will not abandon its weapons and declared it ready to defend Lebanon in any confrontation with Israel, in a speech delivered at an anniversary commemoration.
Speaking at an event described by organizers as marking the death of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem framed the movement’s struggle as a continuing national and regional mission. He praised Nasrallah’s legacy, saying it had planted “Palestine in our hearts” and produced a resilient resistance and vowed that Hezbollah would remain “holders of the trust” and steadfast in its mission.
Qassem accused Israel of using unlawful force against Palestinians and of conducting aggressive actions across the region. “Israel’s aggression and its moves against Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq are threatening to ignite the entire Middle East,” he said, framing recent confrontations as part of a broad campaign backed by Western support intended to eliminate resistance groups.
He portrayed the 2006 war and subsequent confrontations as periods that ultimately strengthened the resistance, saying Hezbollah had recovered the initiative after facing intense pressure and attempts to neutralize it. He credited the movement with helping communities rebuild, citing the repair of some 400,000 homes and pointed to successful municipal elections as evidence of its continued political presence and local support.
On the question of disarmament, Qassem was unequivocal. He accused the United States, and specifically its envoy Tom Breck, of advocating for the disarmament of Hezbollah while refusing to arm the Lebanese army to confront Israel. “We will not allow our arms to be taken away,” he warned, adding that any attempt to strip the movement of its weapons would trigger a “Karbala-like” confrontation, invoking imagery of resolute, sacrificial resistance.
Qassem urged Lebanon’s government to prioritize reconstruction and to place national sovereignty at the top of its agenda, arguing that true sovereignty depends on preventing Israeli permanence on Lebanese territory. He called for unity at home and for efforts to build a stronger Lebanon in which “resistance” remains a pillar of national strength. He also invoked the Taif Agreement, the 1989 accord that ended Lebanon’s civil war urging its implementation, including provisions he said allow for the use of resistance in achieving liberation.
On political issues, Qassem said Hezbollah supports holding parliamentary elections on schedule and backing reforms that would remove sectarian quotas and pave the way for a senate, referencing his group’s calls for implementing parts of Taif related to political restructuring. He criticized recent government decisions concerning the resistance’s arms as “a grave sin” and rejected any suggestion that the Lebanese army should be turned against its own people; he added that Hezbollah stands ready to support the army in confronting what he called the “real enemy.”
A note on veracity: public records and major international reporting indicate Hassan Nasrallah, long-serving secretary-general of Hezbollah, remains active and living. Claims of his assassination are extraordinary and, if presented elsewhere, should be treated as unverified. This report confines itself to summarizing the content and policy positions advanced by Naim Qassem in his public remarks.
The speech underscores Hezbollah’s continued centrality in Lebanon’s security, political debate and in wider regional tensions, and signals that the movement remains prepared to resist external pressure to disarm while pressing Lebanese authorities to prioritize reconstruction and sovereignty.
