Hezbollah Leader Hopes Iran-US Deal Will Cover Lebanon

JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the militant group Hezbollah Naim Qassem on Sunday said he hoped the Iran-United States deal would include Lebanon, where Israel and the Iran-backed group are engaged in conflict.

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel broke out again, following the group dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets into Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack on February 28.

"InshaAllah, this agreement will be completed and there are signs of its completion, and therefore we will also be among those covered by this agreement - a full cessation of hostilities agreement," Qassem said in a televised speech on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television channel, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (25/5).

The speech marked the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, after about two decades of occupation and after persistent pressure from Hezbollah.

Qassem said Iran, which has provided funds and weapons to Hezbollah for decades, is "on top" and will come out of the regional war "with its head held high."

Previously, Iranian officials said an understanding with Washington to stop the regional war would include Lebanon.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump had reaffirmed his support for Israel's "right to defend itself against threats on all fronts, including in Lebanon."

Hopes for a Middle East deal emerged as Lebanon prepared for a fourth round of direct talks with Israel in Washington on June 2 and 3, preceded by a meeting between military delegations at the Pentagon on May 29.

Qassem once again reiterated his group's rejection of direct talks, accusing Israel's main ally, Washington, of "not being a sincere mediator."

"Direct negotiations are absolutely unacceptable and only benefit Israel," he said, referring to the Lebanese authorities who last year committed to disarm Hezbollah and then banned its military activities after the latest war broke out.

"Leave direct negotiations and do not give to America so that America gives to Israel. Return to national understanding," he said.

"Don't ally with them and stab us in the back. You will get nothing, and it's better for you to defend your country," he added.

Despite suffering heavy losses in the 2023-2024 hostilities with Israel and the current war, Hezbollah refuses to disarm, arguing that its weapons are a Lebanese internal matter and not up for discussion in Washington.

"Disarmament means stripping Lebanon of its defense capabilities and the capabilities of the resistance (Hezbollah) and its people, paving the way for destruction," he said.

"Disarmament is destruction and we cannot accept it," Qassem said.

The state monopoly on weapons demanded by the Lebanese government "at this stage aims to target the resistance and is an Israeli project" whose goal is to "destroy the resistance."

"All the facts prove that we and our people face an existential threat," Qassem said.

"We will not bow down, even if the whole world turns against us," he concluded.