Beirut: Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared on Sunday that the group is prepared to pursue peace but will not disarm in light of ongoing Israeli violations in southern Lebanon. In a televised address, Qassem emphasized the group's commitment to maintaining its defensive posture as long as Israeli occupation and aggression continue.

According to Anadolu Agency, Qassem firmly rejected any demands for Hezbollah to lay down its arms, stating, "We cannot be asked to soften our stance or lay down arms while (Israeli) aggression continues. The ceasefire agreement was supposed to halt Israeli attacks, but the opposite has occurred with full US support." This stance comes in the wake of numerous calls from Lebanese authorities to bring all weapons under state control.

In April, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun highlighted the importance of dialogue and favorable political conditions to address the issue of disarming Hezbollah. Qassem, however, insisted that Israel must first comply with the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement by ceasing air violations, withdrawing from Lebanese territories, and facilitating reconstruction efforts. Only then, he asserted, could the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which advocates for a permanent ceasefire and a demilitarized buffer zone, proceed.

International pressure, particularly from the United States, has mounted on Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah's military wing. Nevertheless, Lebanese President Aoun, during a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, pointed out that the ongoing Israeli occupation complicates Lebanon's ability to enforce exclusive control over armaments and assert full sovereignty.

In a show of defiance, Hezbollah supporters recently staged a procession in Beirut's Zoqaq al-Blat area, where armed participants paid homage to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, has resulted in over 4,000 deaths, more than 17,000 injuries, and the displacement of nearly 1.4 million people. Despite a truce agreement in November, Israeli forces have continued to conduct near-daily operations in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities.

Lebanese officials have documented nearly 3,000 violations of the truce by Israeli forces, leading to the deaths of at least 225 people and injuries to over 500. The ceasefire agreement initially required Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, but the deadline was extended to February 18 due to non-compliance, with Israel maintaining its military presence at five border outposts.