Beirut, Lebanon – Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem said on Friday that the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the party could lead to a “civil war”.
He stressed that the party is ready to fight a “battle” to preserve its weapons.
He pointed out that the Lebanese government had taken a very dangerous decision. It violated the Charter for Coexistence. He considered that it was exposing the country to a major crisis.
He added: “Leave the enemy to confront us and do not confront him on our behalf. Just remain silent and let us confront him”.
He continued: “Let the government meet to plan to confront the aggression, not to hand over the country to an insatiable aggressor. The resistance takes its legitimacy from blood, liberation, rights, and land. It does not take it from you, nor does it need it from you.”
He added: “Do not drag the army into internal strife, as its record is spotless. Its leadership does not want to enter this path. Either Lebanon remains and we remain together, or peace be upon the world and you bear responsibility.”
Qassem said that Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal Movement decided to postpone any street protests against a US-backed plan to disarm it. They believe there is room for dialogue with the Lebanese government.
But he added that any future protests could reach the US embassy in Beirut.
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Marcos announced this week that the Council of Ministers had agreed to “end the armed presence on all territories, including Hezbollah.”
