Rubio accuses Hezbollah of trying to ‘drag Lebanon back into chaos’

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Hezbollah of actively working to plunge Lebanon back into chaos and destruction. Rubio denounced the group's "reckless call to overthrow Lebanon’s democratically elected government," asserting that the era of a terrorist group holding a nation hostage is ending.

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the people have the right to go down onto the streets and to bring down the government

His remarks came in response to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, who stated that the Lebanese people have the right to protest and remove the government. Qassem defended the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial institution, affiliated with Hezbollah, arguing that U.S. sanctions and Israeli strikes against it harm hundreds of thousands of poor and low-income individuals. The Lebanese government faces U.S. pressure to act against the firm amid escalating tensions.

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The aggression against Al-Qard al-Hassan is an aggression against hundreds of thousands of poor people and those with limited income

Meanwhile, reports suggest the U.S. is negotiating a potential deal with Iran that could lead to an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense in a call with President Trump. Despite a ceasefire, sporadic strikes continue on both sides, highlighting the persistent instability in the region.

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Hezbollah’s threats of violence and overthrow will not be allowed to succeed. The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end.