News - Middle East: The Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah has reiterated that the US and Israel’s calls for the disarmament of the resistance group are designed to weaken Lebanon and leave it exposed to external aggression.

“The resistance’s weapons are the secret to its strength, and they will not be surrendered,” Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a televised speech marking Martyr's Day on Tuesday.

He stressed that the US and Israeli threats and pressure “will not change our stance; we will defend our land and dignity, and we will not surrender.”

“The US and Israel should despair,” Sheikh Qassem added, emphasizing that the resistance “will not bow despite the losses and threats.”

He described the calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah as “a pretext” for launching an aggression on Lebanon, saying, “We face a real existential threat, and it’s our right to do whatever is necessary to confront it.”

Referring to the Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement reached last year, Sheikh Qassem said Israel “refuses to withdraw because it seeks to control Lebanon’s future.”

He stated that the US and Israel are intervening in Lebanon’s political, military and economic affairs, adding that Washington aims “to eliminate its [Lebanon’s] ability to resist and arm the Lebanese army to a level that prevents it from confronting the enemy”, leaving the Arab country exposed to aggression.

“America is a project of occupation and aggression that uses Israel as a tool to achieve its goals,” the Hezbollah chief added.

Regarding the ceasefire agreement, Sheikh Qassem stated that the Lebanese authorities are responsible for ensuring the implementation of this agreement by all legitimate means, stressing that Israel must withdraw from South Lebanon, stop its aggression on the country and release the Lebanese captives.

“There can be no stability in Lebanon with the continued Israeli aggression and American pressure.”

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27, 2024. Under the deal, Tel Aviv was required to withdraw fully from the Lebanese territory—but has kept forces stationed at five sites, in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the terms of last November’s agreement.

Since the implementation of the ceasefire, Israel has violated the agreement multiple times through repeated assaults on the Lebanese territory.

Lebanese authorities have warned that the regime’s violations of the ceasefire threaten national stability.

Source: Press TV