BEIRUT: Hezbollah has declared that it will not surrender its weapons under any circumstances, urging Israel to halt its aggression and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.

In a strongly worded statement, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem said that true sovereignty for Lebanon is only possible if Israeli hostilities come to an end. He called on the Lebanese government to press Israel into fully implementing the 2024 ceasefire agreement.

“Our resistance will remain a powerful barrier that prevents Israel from achieving its objectives,” Qassem asserted. He dismissed domestic and international calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament, insisting that Israel must first withdraw from Lebanese territory, release prisoners, and stop its attacks.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, said Lebanon had approved a plan to disarm Hezbollah as part of a broader peace initiative. “Lebanon has fulfilled its part now Israel must also cooperate and honor the agreement,” Barrack noted.

The U.S.-backed roadmap includes four stages: disarming Hezbollah, halting Israeli air, land and naval strikes, and ultimately withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. It also outlines steps for Lebanon’s post-war economic recovery.

However, Hezbollah’s refusal to lay down arms has heightened concerns of further escalation, especially as Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory continue despite the cabinet’s decision.