Nassar clarified on the ‘X’ platform that the party’s continued insistence on holding onto its weapons outside the framework of the state poses a threat to national security and stability, and must be dealt with firmly. Recently, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun disclosed that he is personally conducting direct communications with the Lebanese ‘Hezbollah’ to address the arms issue, noting that ‘negotiations are progressing slowly but are seeing some responsiveness to the proposed ideas.’ Aoun, during his meeting with a delegation from the ‘Press Club’ headed by the club’s president, Bassam Abu Zeid, at Baabda Palace, emphasized that ‘no one desires war or can bear its repercussions,’ calling for ‘handling this issue with wisdom and realism,’ according to ‘Janoubia.’ Lebanese ‘Hezbollah’ denied reports in some Arab media about its readiness to ‘clash’ with the Lebanese state and its refusal to hand over its weapons. Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, stated that ‘the exclusivity of weapons should be placed in the context of confronting a major threat that will not spare Lebanon,’ urging for ‘unity of speech and working according to a clear national priority.’ The ceasefire agreement between ‘ ‘ and Israel came into effect on November 27, 2024, after more than a year of Hezbollah opening what it called a ‘support front for the Gaza Strip.’ The Israeli army was supposed to complete its withdrawal from areas it occupied in southern Lebanon by January 26th of the previous year, but Israel did not adhere to the deadline and maintained its military presence in five strategic points in the south of the country, citing ‘ensuring the protection of northern settlements,’ as it continued to launch attacks on Lebanon from time to time.
