Hezbollah's leader has affirmed that the group will not disarm under Israeli pressure. He also called on the Lebanese government to stop direct negotiations with Israel and to seize the opportunity presented by the US-Iran agreement to pressure Israel into withdrawing its forces from Lebanon.
On 18 June 2026 GMT+7, Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, spoke via a live broadcast from an undisclosed location during the Ashura commemoration on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. He confirmed that Hezbollah will not disarm despite facing pressure and threats from Israel.
Qassem stated that any attempt to use disarmament as a political condition will fail, reaffirming Hezbollah's commitment to maintaining its military capabilities.
The Hezbollah leader also urged the Lebanese government to utilize the US-Iran agreement to pressure Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. He proposed that the Lebanese army be stationed only in the southern region along the Litani River, near the Israeli border.
Additionally, he criticized the direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, viewing them as a process that has increasingly forced Lebanon to make concessions and suffer disadvantages. He called on the government to end this approach.
Source: AP