Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem criticised the coordination and direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel, while also rejecting calls for the disarmament of what he described as “the resistance” — Hezbollah — in exchange for a ceasefire.
Qassem said any ceasefire agreement must ensure a complete cessation of hostilities across Lebanese territory and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
He argued that the ceasefire arrangement remains unclear regarding the future of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, raising questions about whether and how Israeli forces would withdraw. He also pointed to uncertainty surrounding pilot areas where Israeli troops are expected to pull out and be replaced by the Lebanese army.
The Hezbollah leader’s remarks came as Israeli officials indicated they intend to maintain a presence at Beaufort Castle and several other strategic locations in southern Lebanon, a move he said would fail to resolve the dispute over Israeli military deployment in the area.
Reiterating Hezbollah’s longstanding position, Qassem said the group would continue to resist any Israeli presence in southern Lebanon, maintaining that resistance would persist for as long as what it considers an Israeli occupation remains on Lebanese territory.