Hezbollah chief Qassem rejects Israel-Lebanon agreement, calls it a humiliation

Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem has vehemently rejected the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, labeling it as "null," a "humiliation," and a surrender of sovereignty. In a statement released on Saturday, Qassem asserted that the agreement should be superseded by an Iran-US memorandum, signaling a clear alignment with Tehran's position.

Qassem further emphasized Hezbollah's firm stance on security arrangements, stating that any attempt to connect Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon with the disarmament of his group would constitute crossing "red lines." This declaration underscores the significant obstacles and deep-seated opposition Hezbollah presents to any normalization or peace process that involves concessions on its armed status.

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any attempt to link Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the group's disarmament crossed "red lines."

The framework agreement, signed in Washington, aims to de-escalate tensions and establish a path toward resolving long-standing disputes between Israel and Lebanon. However, Qassem's strong repudiation indicates that the implementation and acceptance of such agreements face considerable challenges from powerful non-state actors operating within Lebanon.

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the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement signed in Washington is "null," a "humiliation" and a surrender of sovereignty, and should be replaced by the Iran-US memorandum.