Disarmament calls aim to weaken the people: Iraqi Hezbollah chief
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Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi warns of growing regional aggression and reaffirms the Resistance’s right to enhance its arsenal to defend land, faith, and dignity.
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Members from the Popular Mobilization Forces attend the funeral of fighters from Kataib Hezbollah, who were killed in a US airstrike in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad, Iraq, July 31, 2024 (AP)
The Secretary-General of the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, issued a statement marking the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein, addressing recent developments in West Asia, particularly in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and reaffirming the group’s firm stance in support of the Axis of Resistance.
Al-Hamidawi condemned what he described as ongoing attempts to subjugate and destabilize the region, referencing the fall of the Syrian government to "criminal takfiri militias" led by al-Jolani, the US-Israeli aggression against the Yemeni people, and a broader war on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He stated that these efforts, driven by "Zionist and Masonic institutions," aim to strip nations of their sovereignty and undermine Resistance movements.
He also criticized growing international calls to disarm Resistance factions under what he called “flimsy pretexts", stressing that neither Iraq nor Lebanon has been spared such pressures.
Kataib Hezbollah urges resistance buildup, pledges for Palestine
Al-Hamidawi emphasised that resisting occupation and deterring aggression is a legitimate right protected by divine faiths and international law. He reaffirmed that the weapons of the people have always been, and will continue to be, their protective shield in defending land, dignity, and holy sites.
He further called for strengthening the Resistance’s arsenal with advanced weapons, improving its technical expertise, and enhancing both its defensive and offensive capabilities to ensure the highest state of readiness against any threat.
Concluding the statement, al-Hamidawi asserted that supporting the oppressed and defending the causes of the nation, particularly the Palestinian cause, remains central to Kataib Hezbollah’s mission. He reiterated the group’s readiness to make further sacrifices to liberate the holy sites from the “filthy Zionists".
Resistance won’t give up arms, gov. decision dangerous: Sheikh Qassem
Earlier today, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem strongly slammed the Lebanese government’s August 5 decision during a ceremony in Baalbek marking the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein, saying it strips Lebanon of its defensive capabilities amid ongoing hostilities and facilitates the killing of resistance fighters and their families.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on August 5 that the Cabinet has formally assigned the Lebanese Army to draft a comprehensive plan aimed at consolidating arms under state control by the end of 2025. The army is expected to submit the plan for Cabinet review no later than August 31.
The decision followed a tense and extended Cabinet meeting held at the presidential palace in Baabda, chaired by President Joseph Aoun. More than three hours of the session were devoted to the highly sensitive agenda item concerning the consolidation of arms under the state’s authority, a topic that continues to fuel deep political divides within the Lebanese government.
Sheikh Qassem described the decision as “dangerous” and a violation of Lebanon’s social cohesion, warning that it “exposes the country to a very serious crisis.”
He accused the government of carrying out “a US-Israeli scheme to dismantle the resistance, even at the cost of plunging Lebanon into civil war and fueling internal strife.”
"This government is serving the Israeli project, knowingly or not," he declared, addressing officials directly, "If you feel helpless, let us face the enemy ourselves. We don’t need you to engage.
Furthermore, the Resistance leader stressed that the government’s duty “is not to surrender the country to the enemy or to unchecked American hegemony,” questioning officials, "How can you, as a government, facilitate the killing of your own citizens?"
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sheikh Qassem also referenced Israeli expansionist ambitions: "Have you heard of Netanyahu’s plan to establish a ‘Greater Israel’? What can you say about this? What are you doing about it?"
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “Greater Israel” vision, reiterated recently, claims territorial reach into Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, constituting an attack on the sovereignty of Arab states and a clear violation of international law.
