Hezbollah describes Lebanon government decision to strip arms as “major sin”

BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (YPA) – Lebanon’s Hezbollah accused on Wednesday Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government of committing a “grave sin” by taking a decision to strip Lebanon of its weapons in the resistance of the Israeli enemy.

In a statement responding to the government’s decision to restrict weapons, Hezbollah affirmed that this step would weaken Lebanon’s capabilities and position in the face of the ongoing Israeli-American aggression, and would achieve goals “Israel” had failed to achieve during its aggression against Lebanon, when the resistance confronted and led the occupation to an agreement obligating “Israel” to halt the aggression and withdraw.

“Preserving Lebanon’s strength and the resistance’s weapons is part of the country’s strength,” the statement added. “Working to arm and strengthen the Lebanese army is one of the necessary measures to expel the enemy from the country’s lands, liberate and protect it.”

The party explained that the decision came as a result of direct dictates from US envoy Thomas Barrack, which was explicitly stated in the cabinet’s deliberations, where Prime Minister Salam announced that the cabinet decided to continue discussion of the US paper next Thursday and to task the Lebanese Army with developing an implementation plan to contain weapons before the end of the year. “This would fully serve Israeli interests and leave Lebanon exposed to the enemy without any deterrence.”

Hezbollah’s statement noted that the government had disregarded the commitment of President Joseph Aoun, who had affirmed in his inaugural speech his intention to call on the Lebanese to discuss a comprehensive defense policy within a national security strategy encompassing diplomatic, economic, and military levels. “This will enable the Lebanese state to remove the Israeli occupation and repel its aggression from all Lebanese territories.”

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