Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, on Tuesday affirmed the group’s support for the Lebanese Army, saying it “is part of our people, our families, and our nation” and that Hezbollah “supports anyone who wants to defend this country.”
Speaking on the occasion of Hezbollah’s Martyrs’ Day, Qassem said the movement backs the army’s role in implementing the ceasefire agreement signed on November 27, 2024. He did not address the apparent contradiction between this stance and the group’s continued commitment to its own armed capabilities.
Qassem said the deal calls for “the enemy’s withdrawal south of the Litani River and the deployment of the Lebanese Army,” describing this as an “acceptable victory” for Hezbollah.
He also accused Israel of failing to respect the ceasefire and of continuing “violations and attacks,” adding that “Lebanon respects the agreement, while Israel seeks to interfere in the country’s future.”
The Hezbollah official criticized the government for focusing on “the disarmament of the resistance” in its policy agenda. He also denounced U.S. and Israeli pressure on Beirut, claiming Washington and Tel Aviv aim to strengthen the Lebanese Army “not to confront Israel, but to counter the resistance.”
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