Hezbollah warns of "Lebanon's collapse" if confronted by the government

Naim Qassem, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, warned that any attempt by the Lebanese government to confront the party would lead to the "collapse of life" in the country, threatening to escalate protests against disarming the party, which could reach the American embassy.

This came during a televised speech on Friday, August 15, where Qassem said: "There is no life for Lebanon if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us; Lebanon cannot be built without all its components," considering that the government bears responsibility for any deterioration in internal security.

Qassem confirmed that Hezbollah will not give up its weapons as long as the "Israeli aggressions" against Lebanon continue, especially in light of the occupation of the southern hills, accusing the government of "handing the country over to Israel" through its decision to disarm the party. He warned that this could lead to "civil war and internal strife."

Qassem described the government's role as one that should be "ensuring stability and rebuilding Lebanon, not handing the country over to an insatiable Israeli aggressor or an American tyrant with limitless greed," adding: "But this government implements the American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war."

Qassem pointed out that Hezbollah postponed protests against disarmament to allow for dialogue, but threatened that demonstrations could escalate "to later reach the American embassy," referring to the rejection of international pressures related to the party's weapons.

These statements come after the visit of Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, to Lebanon and his meetings with Lebanese presidents, as well as two weeks after the government approved a plan to "restrict weapons to the state," assigning the army to establish a mechanism for handing over Hezbollah's weapons by the end of the year (2025).

For its part, the party rejected the decision and described it as "non-existent," while its supporters organized motorcycle rallies in several areas in rejection of it, at a time when statements from Iranian officials supporting the party's adherence to its weapons drew criticism within Lebanon.