Hezbollah Rejects Disarmament Amid US Pressure, Israel Strikes

Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has firmly rejected international and U.S. demands for the group's disarmament, stating that such calls serve Israeli interests and threaten Lebanon's sovereignty. The United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, is pressuring the Lebanese government to formally commit to disarming Hezbollah as a precondition for resuming ceasefire negotiations and halting Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Despite an existing ceasefire agreement requiring Hezbollah fighters to withdraw north of the Litani River, the group has not fully complied and refuses to surrender its weapons, viewing disarmament as equivalent to submission to Israel. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack has been spearheading talks with Lebanon to implement a roadmap involving Hezbollah's disarmament in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawal and cessation of airstrikes; however, Barrack has stated he will not return to Lebanon without a formal government commitment. Qassem accused Barrack of intimidation and said Hezbollah's arsenal, including missiles and drones, scares Israel, underscoring Hezbollah's stance that disarmament is unacceptable without complete Israeli withdrawal. Lebanese officials are reportedly preparing to discuss Hezbollah's disarmament at the cabinet level amid rising U.S. diplomatic pressure.