Latest news with #Karbala-style
UPI
2 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Hezbollah: Lebanon risks civil war if government enacts disarming plan
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said his group will not 'surrender its weapons' while Israel, which significantly weakened Hezbollah during a 14-month war last year, remains a threat and continues to strike Lebanon, occupy parts of its territories and hold Lebanese prisoners. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem issued a strong warning to the Lebanese government against moving forward with its plan to disarm the Iran-backed militant group, accusing it of acting on orders from the United States and Israel, and threatening that such a move could spark a civil war. Qassem said his group will not "surrender its weapons" while Israel, which significantly weakened Hezbollah during a 14-month war last year, remains a threat and continues to strike Lebanon, occupy parts of its territories and hold Lebanese prisoners. "We will fight this as a Karbala-style battle if necessary, confronting this Israeli-American scheme no matter the cost, confident that we will emerge victorious," he said in a televised speech released Friday. To Muslim Shiites, Karbala means standing against tyranny, sacrifice and steadfastness in the face of overwhelming odds. Qassem's strong warning came after he met with Iran Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, who visited Beirut on Wednesday, where he heard firm statements from President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam rejecting any interference in their country's internal affairs. Larijani tried to play down recent comments by Iranian political and military officials who criticized the Lebanese government for endorsing the objectives of a U.S.-proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah and for tasking the Lebanese Army with developing a strategy to enforce a state monopoly on weapons by the end of the year. The Iranian officials also maintained that Hezbollah, which has been funded and armed by Iran since its formation in the early 1980s, would never be disarmed. Qassem said the government took "a very dangerous decision" last week, exposing the country to "a major crisis" and stripping it of "defensive weapons during times of aggression." He also accused it of "serving the Israeli agenda" and carrying out "an order" from the U.S. and Israel "to end the resistance, even if that leads to a civil war and internal strife." He held the government fully responsible for any sectarian strife, internal explosion, or destruction of Lebanon and warned it against dragging the Army into such an internal conflict. Qassem, said, however, there "is still an opportunity, room for dialogue and for making adjustments before reaching a confrontation that no one wants." He added that Hezbollah was ready for confrontation and that demonstrations will be held across Lebanon, including "heading to the U.S. Embassy," located in Awkar, north of Beirut. Hezbollah, which reportedly lost the bulk of its military capabilities in ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting its positions in southern and eastern Lebanon, accepted the ceasefire accord to stop a war that killed or wounded more than 20,000 people and left border villages in southern Lebanon in ruins. While it implicitly agreed to discuss its weapons as part of a national defense strategy, the group resisted government efforts to set a timetable for disarming -- a key U.S. condition for unlocking much-needed international and Gulf Arab funding to support Lebanon's reconstruction and economic recovery. Lebanon's decision to set a timeline for Hezbollah disarming was mainly motivated by the risk of another devastating war with Israel and of losing well-needed funds to rebuild its war-devastated regions. "Let us work together to build the country, so that we may all win," Qassem said. "There is no life for Lebanon if you choose to stand on the opposite side."
Roya News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Hezbollah leader: We'll never surrender weapons
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem reaffirmed Friday that the group will not surrender its weapons, warning it would fight a 'Karbala-style' battle if necessary. His remarks came a day after meeting with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The statement follows the Lebanese government's order for the army to draft a plan to place all weapons under state control by the end of August. Qassem warned that Hezbollah would engage in such a battle 'if necessary' to confront what he described as a project backed by Tel Aviv and Washington. 'No matter the cost, we are confident we will win,' he said. 'This is our land and our homeland. We live together, or Lebanon will have no life,' Qassem added in a televised speech. 'If you stand on the other side and attempt to overthrow us, Lebanon cannot be built without all its components. Either it remains with us together, or it's farewell to the country.' He criticized the government's August 5 decision tasking the army with drafting a plan to disarm Hezbollah and other armed factions, calling it 'a dangerous decision' that 'strips the country of defensive weapons during aggression and makes it easier to kill the resistance.' According to Qassem, the move violates Lebanon's national pact of coexistence and risks plunging the country into a major crisis. 'Do not drag the army into internal strife,' he said, praising the military's record and noting that its leadership 'does not want to take this path.' He held the government 'fully responsible' for any potential civil strife, internal explosion, or destruction in Lebanon, accusing it of abandoning its duty to defend the country and its citizens. 'The government cannot strip the resistance of its legitimacy, nor does it have the right to do so,' he asserted. Lebanese justice minister responds Lebanon's Justice Minister responded, saying that 'threatening to destroy Lebanon to defend one's weapons puts an end to the claim that these weapons are meant to defend the country.' On protests Qassem described the government's decision as 'non-charter,' revealing that Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, agreed to postpone street protests in hopes of reaching dialogue and amendments before confrontation. He argued the government should first 'assert its authority by expelling the Israeli Occupation' and ensuring that no 'Israeli' weapons are present on Lebanese soil. 'Leave the occupation to us and do not confront it on our behalf,' he said. 'Just as the occupation's wars on Lebanon have failed, this one will fail too.' Government's disarmament plan On August 7, the Lebanese government approved the goals outlined in a US-backed proposal to solidify a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and 'Israel'. The plan includes 'the gradual elimination of all non-governmental armed groups, including Hezbollah, across all Lebanese territory,' with support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Forces (ISF). It also calls for deploying the LAF to border areas and key internal sites, supporting 'Israel's' withdrawal from five positions in southern Lebanon, and resolving border and prisoner issues through diplomacy.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Ally Sends Warning to US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said the group will not hand over its weapons, warning against a United States-backed plan for Lebanon that calls for disarming in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal and international support for reconstruction. "The resistance will not hand over its weapons while the [Israeli] aggression continues, and if necessary, we will fight it as a Karbala-style battle and we are confident we will prevail," Qassem said Friday, according to Al-Mayadeen TV Channel. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department and the Lebanese Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters The U.S. has been actively involved in crafting a plan aiming at disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year, also tying it to economic support for the country's reconstruction. Qassem's remarks come just as Iran's newly appointed security chief met with Hezbollah in Beirut, vowing support amid increasing pressure on regional proxy forces to disarm. This pressure has intensified following Hezbollah and Hamas' military weakening by Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict that started in October 2023. In June, Hezbollah declared it would refrain from responding to Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran out of respect for the Lebanon ceasefire. Iran's other allies including the active Houthis, also did not interfere militarily. What To Know Qassem accused the Lebanese government of following U.S.-Israeli directives to dismantle Hezbollah's armed resistance, in a televised speech, where he said disarming the resistance would deprive the Lebanese people of crucial defenses during attacks. In reference to a historic Shia battle in the 7th century, the Battle of Karbala, the group's spokesperson signaled it would resist even at great cost. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), described resistance as a "great asset" for the region and the Islamic world, during a visit to the country where he also met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to Iranian media. Last week, Lebanese ministers from Hezbollah and its allies walked out of a Cabinet meeting protesting the plan, according to the Associated Press, as the government is concerned that potential international aid—crucial for addressing Lebanon's prolonged economic crisis—may hinge on state control over weapons. Israel has long sought the disarmament of Iran's network of proxy groups. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged numerous ceasefire breach accusations as border skirmishes continued. Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's second in command, addresses the crowd at the funeral of Ibrahim Aqil, the Hezbollah Radwan Forces commander, and Mahmoud Hamad, another Hezbollah commander, both killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential... Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's second in command, addresses the crowd at the funeral of Ibrahim Aqil, the Hezbollah Radwan Forces commander, and Mahmoud Hamad, another Hezbollah commander, both killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh in Beirut, Lebanon. More COURTNEY BONNEAU/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images What People Are Saying Hezbollah Leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Friday, translated from Arabic: "The government is carrying out the U.S.-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war and internal strife. The Lebanese government bears full responsibility for any internal strife and for abandoning its duty to defend Lebanon's land." U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott told reporters on August 7: "Special Envoy Tom Barrack made it clear what the President needs to see. As long as Hizballah retains arms, words will not suffice. The Lebanese Armed Forces must fully commit and act now to fully implement the government's decision. The credibility of Lebanon's government rests on its ability to match principle with practice." Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said Wednesday in Beirut according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA): "The young fighters of Hezbollah are a source of pride for all Muslims, and walking the path of the martyr Nasrallah requires steadfastness in resistance. We are always with you and will support you." What Happens Next? If Hezbollah remains resolute, Iran could be seen as regaining influence, with risks of broader regional fallout and possible further U.S. military involvement.
