Hezbollah chief says Lebanon-Israel deal humiliates the nation and its army

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Friday accused Lebanese authorities of subjecting the country’s armed forces to undue pressure by implementing a framework deal agreed with Israel to end hostilities. The trilateral framework, which includes the United States, involves the disarmament of the Iran-backed group and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Qassem dismissed the agreement as "Israeli dictations" that the Lebanese authorities have signed.

Questioning the achievements of the seven rounds of negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv, Qassem asked, "How can you accept this ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese army, exposing it to bombardment and Israeli pressures, instead of acting as its protectors?" He reiterated that Hezbollah would not surrender or abandon its weapons.

Meanwhile, recent talks in Rome regarding the formation of a committee to verify the Lebanese army's deployment in "pilot zones" in the south have faced setbacks. While Washington has announced a new round of negotiations for early September, Qassem called on Lebanese officials to reverse the deal, claiming the previous seven rounds had yielded no results.

Since the conflict escalated in March, Israeli forces have seized a strip of land extending about 10 kilometers into southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. According to Lebanese officials, the operation has resulted in over 4,300 deaths. Despite the tensions, a U.S. State Department spokesperson described the recent talks as "constructive," noting that the sides reached understandings on parameters to verify the clearing of Hezbollah infrastructure in specific areas.