Naim Qassem Rejects US Sanctions, Warns Against Disarmament Demands

Naim Qassem has declared that American sanctions will not weaken his organization, warning that further escalation by the United States would leave it with nothing to gain in Lebanon, as such actions would ultimately destroy the country.

In his remarks, Qassem characterized disarmament as an assault on Lebanon's defensive capacity, framing it as a prelude to annihilation—something he stated cannot be accepted. He criticized the Lebanese government for pressuring his group to surrender weapons, arguing that such disarmament would pave the way for Israeli military intervention and the killing and displacement of Lebanese civilians.

Qassem challenged the Lebanese state's commitment to its constitutional obligations regarding national sovereignty and protection. He questioned whether the government would fulfill its constitutional duties to safeguard these principles while asking armed groups to lay down their weapons.

The remarks underscore the ongoing tension between armed groups in Lebanon and government efforts to establish state monopoly over weapons and security matters.