Hezbollah refuses to hand over its weapons to Lebanese government

Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem rejected Lebanon’s decision to disarm the Iran-backed militant group, calling it a US-Israeli order and warning of a major crisis.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem threatened open confrontation on Friday if Lebanon’s government proceeds with plans to disarm the militant group, calling the cabinet decision an implementation of “US-Israeli orders.”

The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved a decision last week requiring the army to urgently develop a disarmament plan and implement it before year-end, marking the most severe challenge to Hezbollah since the civil war ended in 1990.

“The decision is dangerous and exposes the country to a major crisis,” Qassem said during a televised speech in Baalbek. “It strips the resistance and Lebanon of defensive weapons during aggression.”

Qassem vowed Hezbollah would not surrender its weapons and warned of armed conflict, if not outright war.

Read more: Euronews