Hezbollah launched a sharp attack on the Lebanese government, with Hussein Khalil, political aide to the group’s secretary-general, urging President Joseph Aoun to end what he described as “political submission” in the government’s decisions. Khalil criticised Prime Minister Aoun’s reference to implementing the Taif Agreement, calling it a “grave mistake,” and argued that the accord clearly affirms Lebanon’s right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory. His comments came amid renewed U.S. diplomatic pressure on Beirut to rein in Hezbollah’s military arsenal, a demand the group continues to reject.

Hezbollah’s Position On Arms

Khalil said U.S. moves to involve the Lebanese army against Hezbollah were “malicious attempts” and warned against dragging the institution into internal strife. He insisted that Washington’s push to dismantle the group’s weapons contradicted the 2024 agreement backed by the U.S. and France. Senior Hezbollah official Naim Qassem reinforced this stance in a televised address, declaring the group’s weapons as its “soul and honour” and refusing any handover to state control.

Government And Diplomatic Reactions

President Aoun, in contrast, called on Lebanon to move beyond sectarianism, stressing the need for “one party—Lebanon” and praising the government as a platform for unprecedented decisions. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Tom Barak visited Beirut carrying Israel’s response to a U.S. proposal, while American diplomat Morgan Ortagus also arrived for talks. Reports indicated Barak had met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging restraint on military operations and alignment with the Lebanese government’s decisions on security.