Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem denounced the concept of the terror group disarming during his speech on "Resistance and Liberation Day," which commemorates the IDF's withdrawal from occupying southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000.
"There is no such thing as exclusivity of weapons or disarming Hezbollah," he said.
Further, he argued that Hezbollah's disarmament would remove Lebanon's "defensive capability, and the capability of the resistance and its people, as a prelude to extermination."
"Disarmament is extermination, and this is something we cannot accept," he said.
He also said that Israel's withdrawal was the "first liberation that took place in the Arab region without an agreement with the Israeli entity."
He also praised Hezbollah's first-person view (FPV) drones, which he said made Israel "dizzy," while listing several attacks on IDF soldiers. In his list, he claimed that the attacks killed several named officers, while the IDF said they were injured.
US not an honest actor due to Israel ties, Hezbollah chief says
Qassem also denounced the US, stating that it is not a mediator, nor an honest actor, as it "manages Israel according to its interests."
During the anti-US portion of his address, he criticized Washington's sanctions on Hezbollah MPs, the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon (who Beirut declared persona non grata), and other Shi'ite officials.
He laid out four premises which, in his view, must be in place before Hezbollah and Lebanon can proceed.
Firstly, that Israel is "an expansionist enemy that wants all of Lebanon and the region."
Secondly, all Lebanese factions must unite to confront Israel's "aggression."
Thirdly, all Lebanese factions should prevent strife and work towards stability.
Fourth, stop Israeli "aggression," achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, deploy the Lebanese military south of the Litani River, return Hezbollah "prisoners," and "reconstruction" of infrastructure.
"If the government is incapable of securing sovereignty, it should leave," he argued.
Qassem also rejected direct negotiations between Beirut and Jerusalem. "I advise you - leave direct negotiations and act coy towards the US. Tell them - stop asking us for anything, then they will run to you and beg you to come."
Qassem also discussed the sanctions placed on the Hezbollah-run financial institution al-Qard al-Hassan. He stated that it has no relation to "banking or economic work," and that it is merely an institution that "gives loans to those in need."
He also said that Hezbollah has "no relation" to the institution.
Palestine to remain Hezbollah's 'compass,' Qassem says
Further, he explained that "Palestine will remain the compass" for Hezbollah's policies. "We will remain supportive and backing," he added.
He also denounced the assassination of Hamas military wing chief Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, and the Global Sumud Flotilla's seizure by the Israel Navy.
Discussing the strikes on Iran as part of operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, he said, "They attack. The aggression is clear before the whole world."
"The Islamic Republic will succeed in defending itself from this aggression," he added.
Qassem also denounced the Kingdom of Bahrain and its arrest of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked activists. "What is the King of Bahrain doing? 41 scholars and opinion leaders are thrown into prisons because they have a cultural and intellectual direction, they have a political direction, and an opinion," he said.
"Bahrain must return to its senses and release the detainees, because injustice does not continue and does not settle," he said.
Rubio condemns Hezbollah for call to overthrow Lebanese government
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the Hezbollah terrorist group after it called for the overthrow of the Lebanese government on Sunday.
"Hezbollah has ignored repeated calls from the legitimate Government of Lebanon to cease its attacks and respect a ceasefire," Rubio stated. "Instead, it has continued firing on Israeli positions and moving fighters and weapons into southern Lebanon."
Rubio further accused Hezbollah of "actively trying to drag Lebanon back into chaos and destruction."
The US stands behind the Lebanese government, he promised.