Hezbollah supporters riot in Beirut protesting Israel-Lebanon agreement

Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut over the weekend, igniting tires and blocking major roads, including those leading to the airport. The unrest followed the signing of a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at securing an Israeli withdrawal and disarming the Iran-backed group.

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the US-brokered agreement was a humiliating concession that undermined Lebanese sovereignty.

Hezbollah's leadership has vehemently rejected the deal. Chief Naim Qassem declared the agreement a "humiliating concession" that compromises Lebanese sovereignty. He vowed that Hezbollah would not comply, stating, "We did not leave the battlefield in the most difficult circumstances, and we will not leave it." The group insists on retaining its weapons, directly challenging Lebanese law enacted in March that prohibits non-state actors from bearing arms.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah echoed these sentiments, warning that Lebanese authorities could only enforce the agreement through "civil war." He asserted that Hezbollah would resist any measures taken by the government and would "hold on to its weapons even more." This opposition is seen as a significant challenge to the implementation of the deal on the ground, with analysts noting the group's capacity to destabilize Lebanon despite Israeli gains.

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We did not leave the battlefield in the most difficult circumstances, and we will not leave it.

The agreement, while welcomed by regional powers like Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, faces staunch opposition from Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israeli forces could remain in southern Lebanon if Hezbollah fails to disarm, highlighting the ongoing tension and the group's defiance.

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they go to civil war