Hezbollah defies U.S. pressure, vows to retain arms until full Israeli withdrawal

Department of Research, Studies and International News31-07-2025

In a firm and defiant address, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, rejected renewed international calls for the group’s disarmament, asserting that such demands serve only the strategic interests of Israel and reflect Washington’s continued bias in favor of Tel Aviv. His remarks came during a televised speech commemorating the first anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike.

Qassem strongly condemned the latest push by the United States for the Lebanese government to formally commit to Hezbollah’s disarmament. “Those calling for us to relinquish our weapons are, in effect, asking us to hand them over to Israel. This is not acceptable and will never happen,” he declared. His speech comes at a time of heightened pressure from Washington, which has made Hezbollah’s disarmament a precondition for resuming negotiations over a lasting cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

The U.S. envoy, Tom Barrack, recently visited Beirut with a proposal that included the complete disarmament of Hezbollah within four months. In exchange, Israel would purportedly withdraw from the remaining Lebanese territories it still occupies and halt its air raids. However, the proposal has been met with suspicion, particularly from Hezbollah and a growing number of Lebanese political voices who question whether Washington’s agenda prioritizes Lebanese sovereignty or simply ensures Israel’s security dominance.

Qassem rejected the idea that Hezbollah’s weapons were a threat to Lebanon’s stability. Instead, he argued, “Our missiles and drones only worry Israel because they stand as a real deterrent. The U.S. is not interested in Lebanon’s security, only in neutralizing any force that can confront Israeli aggression.”

He further emphasized that the November ceasefire agreement, brokered to de-escalate last year’s hostilities, was strictly related to troop deployment south of the Litani River. “Linking Hezbollah’s arms to this agreement is an attempt to manipulate its scope. Our weapons are a purely Lebanese matter, not one for negotiation with a foreign occupier,” Qassem said.

The ceasefire had stipulated the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters north of the Litani River, leaving the area south of it to be controlled solely by the Lebanese Army and United Nations peacekeeping forces. However, Hezbollah asserts that Israel has failed to honor its part of the deal by maintaining troops in at least five key positions in southern Lebanon.

Despite significant losses during last year’s war, including senior commanders, thousands of fighters, and extensive displacement of civilians, Hezbollah remains resolute. Its leadership views Israeli withdrawal as a prerequisite for any serious discussion about arms. “We will never entertain talks about our weapons while Israeli forces remain on our land and continue bombing our people,” Qassem stated.

The intensifying pressure from Washington coincides with mounting internal and regional calls for Lebanon to assert full state control over arms. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has convened a cabinet meeting scheduled for next week to deliberate on “extending state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory exclusively through national forces.” The agenda is expected to include discussions on implementing the ceasefire and reviewing Barrack’s proposed framework.

However, sources inside the Lebanese government, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Beirut is under immense diplomatic pressure to act against Hezbollah. Washington, according to these sources, has rejected Lebanon’s counter-demand that Israel complete its withdrawal first.

Qassem denounced this one-sided expectation. “The true threat is the ongoing Israeli aggression. This must be the central issue in any political dialogue, not weakening Lebanon’s resistance in the name of false peace.”

In conclusion, Hezbollah’s position remains unchanged: any discussions about the future of its arsenal will only begin once Israel halts its violations and fully evacuates Lebanese soil. As Qassem put it, “Israel will not subjugate us, and neither will its Western allies. Resistance is our right, and our arms are not up for negotiation under occupation.”

The latest developments reinforce the growing divide between Western-aligned demands and the regional resistance axis’s commitment to safeguarding sovereignty against foreign interference and ongoing military threats.