BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem stated on Tuesday that the Iran-backed group's arsenal would not be included in upcoming negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, while vowing that his fighters would turn the battlefield into 'hell' for Israeli forces.
Weapons Not on Negotiating Table
'Nobody outside Lebanon has anything to do with the weapons, the resistance, this is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy,' Qassem declared in a written statement. His comments came ahead of a third round of talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli representatives, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Defiant Stance Amid Ceasefire
'We will not surrender and we will continue to defend Lebanon and its people, however long it takes and however great the sacrifices, we will not abandon the battlefield and we will turn it into hell for Israel,' Qassem added in the statement addressed to the group's fighters. The message was broadcast on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television channel, even as fighting continues in Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement.
The remarks underscore Hezbollah's determination to maintain its military capabilities independently of any diplomatic process. The Washington talks, mediated by the United States, aim to address border disputes and security arrangements between Lebanon and Israel, but Qassem's statement signals that Hezbollah's weapons will remain off the table.
