JAKARTA - Lebanese militant group Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Sunday that steps to disarm the group in Lebanon were an "Israeli-American plan," accusing Israel of failing to abide by a ceasefire agreement agreed last year.
Under heavy US pressure and fears of an Israeli attack, the Lebanese military is expected to complete the disarmament of Hezbollah in the south of the Litani River - which is located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border with Israel - by the end of the year.
After that, the Lebanese military will disarm the Hezbollah group throughout Lebanon.
"Disarmament is an Israeli-American plan," Qassem said, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (29/12).
"Demanding exclusive arms control while Israel is committing aggression and America is imposing its will on Lebanon, stripping it of its power, means you are not working for the interests of Lebanon, but rather for what Israel wants," he said.
Although the November 2024 ceasefire was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities with the Hezbollah group, Israel continues to carry out attacks on Lebanon and maintains troops in five areas considered strategic.
According to the agreement, Hezbollah is required to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure in the vacated area.
"The deployment of Lebanese soldiers south of the Litani River is only necessary if Israel has complied with its commitments to stop the aggression, withdraw, release prisoners, and begin reconstruction," Qassem said in a televised speech.
"With the Israeli enemy not implementing the steps of the agreement, Lebanon is no longer required to take any action at any level before Israel commits to what they are obliged to do," he said.
Israel questions the effectiveness of the Lebanese military and accuses Hezbollah of re-arming, while the group itself rejects calls to hand over its weapons.
Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Rodolphe Haykal said in a military meeting on Tuesday, "the armed forces are in the process of completing the first phase of its plan."
He said the armed forces were carefully planning "for the next phases" of the disarmament.
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