Defying Trump’s deadline, Hezbollah chief rejects Israel-US disarmament ‘plot’

Ahead of Trump-Netanyahu meeting, Hezbollah chief rejects demands that the group disarm, setting conditions for the implementation of the 2024 ceasefire deal.

By World Israel News Staff

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday accused the United States of colluding with Israel against the terror group, and rejected American demands that Hezbollah disarm immediately.

In a televised address, Qassem dismissed the December 31 deadline set by the White House for Beirut to show substantial progress in demilitarizing the Iranian-backed Shi’ite organization, calling it part of an “Israeli-American plot” against Lebanon.

“Disarmament is an Israeli-American plot,” Qassem said, before laying out terms for handing over the terror group’s arsenal to the Lebanese government.

While the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire – as well as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006 – require Hezbollah to immediately surrender its weapons, Qassem conditioned disarmament on an end to Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah terrorists and the withdrawal of IDF forces from five enclaves on the Lebanese side of the border.

“To demand exclusive arms control while Israel is committing aggression and America is imposing its will on Lebanon, stripping it of its power, means that you are not working in Lebanon’s interest, but rather in the interest of what Israel wants,” Qassem said.

“The deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River was required only if Israel had adhered to its commitments” under the November 2024 ceasefire, “to halting the aggression, withdrawing, releasing prisoners, and having reconstruction commence.”

“With the Israeli enemy not implementing any of the steps of the agreement… Lebanon is no longer required to take any action on any level before the Israelis commit to what they are obligated to do.”

The comments come a day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to meet President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, for talks on Gaza, Iran, and a possible renewal of large-scale IDF military operations against Hezbollah.

Israeli media outlets have reported that Netanyahu will ask Trump for a green light to launch a broad campaign against Hezbollah after the December 31st deadline.