ALBAWABA- Hezbollah has rejected a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, refusing any proposal that links an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the group's disarmament.
In a strongly worded speech, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem condemned the memorandum as "futile," "humiliating," and a "roadmap for the annihilation" of part of the Lebanese people.
Qassem said Hezbollah would not surrender its weapons while Israeli forces remain on Lebanese territory, insisting that a complete Israeli withdrawal must precede any discussion of the group's military status.
"We will not accept disarmament under occupation," he said, describing the proposal as an attempt to fulfil Israel's objectives by political means rather than through war.
The memorandum, announced following U.S.-mediated talks in Washington, is intended to reinforce the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and establish a roadmap toward a longer-term security arrangement.
Under the proposed framework, the Lebanese Armed Forces would gradually assume control of designated "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, while non-state armed groups would withdraw from border areas and eventually disarm. The agreement also calls for a complete cessation of Hezbollah attacks against Israel as part of a phased implementation process.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the agreement, describing it as an important step toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty and state authority. He said the Lebanese army would begin deploying to the designated pilot zones but stressed that Lebanon continues to demand a full Israeli withdrawal from its territory.
Israel has maintained that any withdrawal from its self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon depends on verifiable security guarantees.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israeli forces will remain in the buffer zone "for as long as necessary" to protect communities in northern Israel. Israeli officials have tied any future redeployment to Hezbollah's verified disarmament and the elimination of what they describe as security threats along the border.
The proposed framework builds on a series of fragile ceasefires reached since April 2026, following months of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Although the Lebanese government participated in the negotiations, Hezbollah was not a direct party to the talks.
