Hezbollah chief says ‘no life’ in Lebanon if government confronts group

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Published On: Fri, 15 Aug 2025

13:06:42 PKT

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned the Lebanese government on Friday against confronting the Iran-backed group, saying there would be “no life” in Lebanon in that event.

Qassem said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi’ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests against a US-backed disarmament plan as they still see room for dialogue with the Lebanese government. But he said any future protests could reach the US Embassy in Lebanon.

In a televised speech, he condemned an August 5 government decision that, he said, would “strip the resistance of its weapons” and pave the way for fighters to be expelled from their homes.

Qassem accused the cabinet of executing “American and Israeli orders” to end the resistance, even if it meant civil war, and serving “the Israeli project” — a stance he said explained the “joy” expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.