Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has strongly rejected the framework agreement negotiated between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, describing it as a humiliating surrender of Lebanese sovereignty. He insisted that the arrangement is “null and void” and argued that the provisions outlined in the Iran-US memorandum of understanding should instead serve as the basis for any future regional settlement.
In a defiant address, Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to maintaining its armed wing, stressing that the organization would not abandon what it calls the resistance movement. He declared that Hezbollah had endured difficult periods in the past and would continue confronting Israeli occupation regardless of new political agreements or international pressure.
The remarks underscore the significant challenges facing efforts to implement the Washington-backed framework, which reportedly includes measures related to security arrangements, the future role of Hezbollah, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s outright rejection raises questions about the agreement’s viability and the broader prospects for long-term stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.
