[News] Piercing the Ship: Qassem’s Warning Exposes Deepening Schism over Lebanon’s Fate

[Anti-Imperialist News]

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Piercing the Ship: Qassem’s Warning Exposes Deepening Schism over Lebanon’s
FateSeptember 28, 2025
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Hezbollah Secretary-General, Naim Qassem. (Photo: video grab)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

Sheikh Qassem emphasized that while Hezbollah remains committed to national
unity, this unity must be focused on shared defense against the external
enemy.

Commemorating the first anniversary of the passing of two of its most
prominent leaders, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safi al-Din,
Hezbollah convened a significant gathering in its stronghold in the
Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh) of Beirut. The event served as a platform for
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to deliver a firm political
address, unequivocally stating that the Resistance “will not leave the
field and will not give up its weapons.”

The address was closely watched, framing the movement’s determined
opposition to both domestic political initiatives and sustained
international pressure. Sheikh Qassem affirmed that any attempt to
dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure would be met with what he termed
an “ultimate, Karbala-like confrontation.” This term, a significant
cultural reference within Shia Islam to an uncompromising struggle for
principle, signals the organization’s view of its armed status as an
existential, ideological duty.

Qassem asserted that despite facing substantial military and political
challenges over the past year, the movement has successfully consolidated
its strength. He declared that the Resistance has not only endured but has
“recovered its fighting capacity,” underscoring the organization’s
resilience and readiness for continued defense.
*Confronting the Disarmament Initiative*

A central point of friction addressed by Sheikh Qassem was the recent
policy adopted by the Lebanese government under Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam’s administration, which aims at confining all weapons to the state
and implementing the measure incrementally.

Qassem directly challenged this initiative, describing the government’s
approval of the plan as a “sin” against the Resistance. He called for an
immediate correction of this decision. The Secretary-General argued that
this domestic policy decision directly accommodates external hostile
interests, stating that disarming Hezbollah would mean “removing our
strength in compliance with Israel’s demand” and achieving its strategic
objectives. Consequently, he stated that the movement “will confront any
project that serves Israel, even if it is cloaked in national attire” by
local political actors.

He also addressed the role of the United States, asserting that Washington
is attempting to “achieve through politics what Israel could not accomplish
by military force.” Qassem suggested that statements from US envoys, such
as Tom Barrack, clearly indicate a broader regional agenda that seeks to
diminish Lebanon’s independent resistance capabilities.

*Warnings Against Internal Division*

The address included strong warnings regarding the risk of internal strife.
Sheikh Qassem emphasized that while Hezbollah remains committed to national
unity, this unity must be focused on shared defense against the external
enemy. He accused certain political rivals of attempting to deliberately
create fissures within the country.

He strongly warned against attempts to incite the Lebanese Army to confront
its own people and its resistance fighters. In a vivid metaphor aimed at
those he views as undermining the nation’s security for political gain,
Qassem stated: “They are piercing the ship from their side, but it will
sink everyone.”

Regarding state affairs, Qassem called for the full implementation of the
Taif Agreement, the national charter designed to end the civil war. He
specified that the agreement mandates the liberation of all Lebanese lands
from occupation, arguing that this necessitates the continued role of the
Resistance to facilitate the extension of state authority.

Furthermore, he affirmed that Lebanon has fulfilled its duties under UN
Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict, and called
on Israel to fulfill its reciprocal obligations under the resolution. He
also called for the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held as
scheduled and according to the current legal framework.

*Political Juxtaposition*

The event was attended by Ali Larijani, the Iranian Secretary of the
Supreme National Security Council, highlighting the regional alignment of
the movement. Larijani addressed Western concerns over arms supplies,
stating that Hezbollah is already powerful and “does not require arms
supplies from elsewhere.” He also issued a diplomatic challenge to
Washington, insisting that the US should “not appoint itself as the
custodian of the Lebanese people.”

Crucially, the diplomatic exchanges surrounding the event revealed the
sharp political dichotomy within Lebanon’s leadership:

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, during his meeting with Larijani, underscored
that relations between Beirut and Tehran must be built on the principle of
mutual respect for the sovereignty of both nations and strict
non-interference in internal affairs—a clear message reinforcing the
state’s independent foreign policy.

President Joseph Aoun also contributed to the official state narrative.
While recognizing the sacrifices of the fallen, he insisted that the
highest form of loyalty is demonstrated through commitment to building a
“strong, single, and just state.” Aoun emphasized that salvation for
Lebanon lies solely in the consolidation of a single state, one army, and
effective constitutional institutions that protect the nation’s dignity and
sovereignty for all citizens.

Sheikh Qassem concluded the commemoration by reaffirming the solemn pledge
of the movement, addressing the martyred leaders directly: “We are on the
Covenant, O Nasrallah. We will be the bearers of the trust, we will not
abandon the field, and we will not give up the weapon.”

The ceremony solidified the Resistance’s firm position, ensuring that the
critical issue of its armed status remains the dominant factor shaping
Lebanon’s political and security landscape.

*(The Palestine Chronicle)*
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