Hezbollah chief Qassem says resistance to Israel key amid disarmament talks

Lebanese PM Salam declares army will be tasked with bringing all arms under state control by end of the year.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem  has reiterated that the armed Lebanese group will not lay down its weapons under Israeli fire, instead stating that the strategy should not be a timeline to disarm, and that resistance to Israel must be discussed in national consensus.

In a televised speech from a secure location on Tuesday, Qassem said, “The resistance is fine, strong and ready to fight for Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence … Hezbollah made heavy sacrifices to defend Lebanon against the Israeli aggression.”

Qassem also warned missiles would rain down on Israel if it resumed a broad war on the country, adding Hezbollah, Lebanon’s army and Lebanon’s people would defend themselves. “All the security they have built over eight months will collapse within an hour,” he said.

Later Tuesday, after a six-hour cabinet meeting chaired by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, it was declared that the army will be tasked with bringing all arms under state control by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed after the meeting “the state’s duty to monopolise the possession of weapons”, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).