Hezbollah official says ‘severing hands’ warning aimed at Israelis, takfiris, and local rivals

Hezbollah political bureau member Mahmoud Qmati reaffirmed the group’s alignment with President Joseph Aoun’s positions, stating that their coordination remains intact. He addressed his earlier comments about “severing the hand that reaches for the resistance’s arms,” clarifying that this response was aimed at political rhetoric from rival Lebanese factions, which he described as provocative. Qmati emphasized that some internal forces are trying to push the Lebanese army into a confrontation with Hezbollah, and his remarks were specifically directed at those actors.

Hezbollah’s stance, according to Qmati, is not about confrontation but about defense. He framed the group’s weapons as a symbol of sacrifice, linked to thousands of martyrs who fought to protect Lebanon. These arms, he said, exist alongside the Lebanese army’s weapons and are considered a source of national pride and strength. Hezbollah, he added, would not allow anyone to weaken this foundation.

Dialogue, Resistance, and National Security

While reiterating Hezbollah’s openness to discussions around national security and the creation of a comprehensive defense strategy, Qmati maintained that the group has never agreed to hand over its weapons. He invoked the memory of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral, which drew large public participation, as a symbol of enduring support for the resistance. Preserving Hezbollah’s arms, he said, is fundamental to maintaining that resistance.

Qmati also noted that Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem supports the notion of securing the country under unified state authority, including the principle of arms exclusivity, but underlines that the role of the resistance must be a central component in any national defense framework.

In response to President Aoun’s suggestion of integrating Hezbollah fighters into the Lebanese army, Qmati refrained from discussing defense strategy proposals publicly. He acknowledged that while messages have been exchanged between the two sides, no formal debate or structured dialogue has begun. He reaffirmed that there is no conflict between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah, and that both sides are cooperating on defending Lebanon’s sovereignty and securing its borders.