Beirut, Aug. 26 -- Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday rejected calls to disarm the Lebanese armed group, insisting its weapons remain essential to Lebanon's sovereignty and defense.
"The weapons that protect us, honor us, and preserve our land and dignity -- we will not abandon them," Qassem said in a speech broadcast by al-Manar TV. "Those who want to strip us of these weapons want to strip us of our very soul. That will never happen."Rejecting the Lebanese government's recent demand on Hezbollah's disarmament, Qassem called it "an illegitimate decision made under American and Israeli dictates." He warned that disarming Hezbollah would only serve Israel's interests and betray the sacrifices of thousands of fighters and civilian...