News- Middle East: The secretary-general of the Hezbollah resistance movement has called upon the Lebanese government to restore the Arab nation’s sovereignty, emphasizing that his group will not lay down its arms and won't allow the Israeli enemy to freely attack and occupy Lebanon.

Speaking in a televised speech broadcast from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Monday evening, Sheikh Naim Qassem stated that Lebanon's internal issues can only be resolved once sovereignty is reclaimed.

He urged the government to prioritize sovereignty and reconstruction over compliance with US and Israeli dictates. 

Sheikh Qassem pointed to Washington’s excessive interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs, arguing it is the party chiefly pushing for the disarmament of Hezbollah, irrespective of the fact that the resistance movement is protecting Lebanon’s soil, security, and sovereignty with its arms.

The Hezbollah chief then invited Lebanese officials to stop making mistakes, reminding them that the role of his resistance group is now more significant than ever.

He stated that Hezbollah played a prominent role in the liberation of eastern Lebanon territories from the clutches of Daesh and other Takfiri terrorist groups.

Sheikh Qassem said that Hezbollah remains a vital pillar in defense of Lebanon’s national security and dignity, emphasizing that its role has grown more crucial, especially in light of increasing foreign aggression and intervention.

He warned that the Israeli enemy could occupy swathes of the Lebanese soil, kill civilians, and destroy buildings at any time or moment, but Hezbollah will readily confront such plots.

Sheikh Qassem said stripping Hezbollah of its arms at a time when the Zionist enemy is working to plunder and destroy Lebanon goes against the national charter.

He categorically dismissed the notion of phased disarmament of Hezbollah, saying such ideas are premature until the other side fulfills its obligations and engages in reciprocal measures.

The Hezbollah chief insisted that Israel must first withdraw from Lebanese territory, release prisoners, and halt attacks.

Sheikh Qassem underscored that the resistance group's arms are not only a symbol of national dignity, but also serve as a shield against Israeli acts of aggression.

“If you truly want sovereignty, then stop the aggression. We will not abandon the weapons that honor us, nor the weapons that protect us from our enemy,” Sheikh Qassem said.

Hezbollah, he further stated, operates in partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces, which he described as the primary force responsible for defending Lebanon.

The resistance movement, Sheikh Qassem said, acts as a complementary support system to the army, especially in times of confrontation.

“If this government continues in its current form, it cannot be trusted to safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he pointed out.

Sheikh Qassem finally called on Lebanese nationals, political leaders, and social media activists to assume a more important role in reclaiming national sovereignty.

Source: Press TV