BEIRUT, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah remains firmly committed to armed resistance and will not consider disarmament under any circumstances, a senior official from the Iran-backed group said on Saturday.
Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's Political Council, made the remarks during a public gathering in Lebanon's eastern Baalbek region, according to the state-run National News Agency.
Qomati accused the United States of leading a regional campaign, carried out by Israel, aimed at dismantling what he described as the "pride of the Arab nation" and eradicating resistance movements.
"We are still the force that the Israeli enemy fears," Qomati said. "Israel and the United States continue to target us, while others echo hollow calls to disarm the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon, offering nothing in return. Let it be clear: disarmament is not on the table, at any price."
Qomati warned that Lebanon faces mounting threats "from the south, east, north, and even the sea," framing Hezbollah's arms as a necessary component of national defense.
Hezbollah and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement on Nov. 27, 2024, ending 14 months of hostilities. The deal calls for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and for the Lebanese army to assume security responsibilities along the southern border, preventing the deployment of militants and weapons.
Earlier this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the army was moving "calmly and responsibly" to ensure state control over weapons nationwide.
Hezbollah's military autonomy remains a deeply divisive issue in Lebanese politics. Senior Hezbollah figures, including the current leader Naim Qassem, have repeatedly dismissed disarmament calls as unrealistic and detrimental to Lebanon's security, saying such efforts only serve Israeli interests. ■
