Despite efforts to disarm the US and Zionist regime’s Hezbollah Resistance movement, Lebanon is on the verge of dangerous escalation. According to the Zionist Project of Greater Israel, disarmament must occur not only in Lebanon’s resistance movement, but also in the entire Arab world.
Some media sources have spoken about President Donald Trump’s plan to establish an economic zone in southern Lebanon. The reality is that the US will not do this for Lebanon. Because it (we) comes to the region from afar, divides the country and plunders Lebanon’s wealth. In this respect, they (the Americans) are not only supporting the crimes of the Zionist regime, but are also trying to end the existence of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance, according to a statement from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
To shed light on the issue, Mehr News Agency reporter Warda Saad contacted former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour for an interview. Details are as follows:
Q: In his speech on the 47th anniversary of the Lebanese Parliament’s chairman, Nabi Beli, spoke about the following: How do you interpret Nabih Berri’s statement? Don’t you think that at the present stage we need decisions rather than peaceful dialogue?
A: In a speech submitted by Nabi Beli, chairman of the Lebanese parliament on the 47th anniversary of Imam Sayed Musa Sadr and his companions, he said he is ready to discuss the weapons of resistance of our honor and dignity under a peaceful and gentle dialogue. Certainly, Nabih Berri, who has a special position in Lebanon, is well aware of the details of the matter, is aware of the sensitivity of the Lebanese internal situation, and understands that in the course of media conflict between parties, there are parties on an American project to disarm resistance.
Nabih Berri’s statement was very clear. When he spoke carefully about the American documents and the process of disarming the resistance movement, as an American plan accepted by the Lebanese government, it is because he recognizes the details of the matter, and it is impossible to disarm the resistance movement, and Beli knows it is a source of honor and dignity for the Lebanese people.
How can resistance movements disarm while parts of Lebanon are occupied by Zionist enemies? There are no countries in the world that are occupied and there are no occupyers in its soil. They then surrender the weapon and say, “Whatever you want to do in our land and in our hometown.”
This is unacceptable, especially as the Lebanese people are paying a large price to free their land by facing Israel’s enemies in all their attacks.
What’s going on in Lebanon is that we really want to discuss the weapons of resistance. This argument therefore shadows peaceful dialogue on the basis that political parties will reach a common ground and exchange for high patriotism to make decisions that will ensure the unity of Lebanon, the rights of the Lebanese people, and the integration of this country.
How can Lebanon disarm the Hezbollah resistance move, but can the constant threat of Zionists and daily military operations continue through drone flights and terrorist acts to prevent the people of Southern Lebanon from returning to their villages? When we think about the reconstruction of devastated areas in the South, we see that Israeli drones are constantly bombing these areas.
It turns out that since reaching the ceasefire agreement on November 27, 2024, Lebanon has been complying with the ceasefire and has not fired a single bullet towards Israel, but the Zionist regime continues to attack, and these violations continue, reaching over 4,000 cases, resulting in 260 deaths and 1,500 other deaths.
This is what Navi Beli wants, and this is his position. Hezbollah is in a solid position not to give up on his weapons. Therefore, in his statement, he (Navi Beli) wants to emphasize it to us and the whole world, including Israel. I hope that disarmament in Lebanon will not be an easy task as long as the Zionist enemies are occupying our land.
Therefore, Lebanon and the Resistance are seeking guarantees. If the resistance movement is disarmed, the Zionist regime has remained an idle state that has always longed for Lebanon’s land and water, and has repeatedly made an announcement through staff.
Q: Last week, Lebanon witnessed important diplomatic and political traffic from many U.S. Congress members and envoys. What is the main reason for this attention to Lebanon? Does this mean that Lebanon has moved to a US camp for regional development?
A: American envoys and politicians who came to Lebanon, whether they were envoys of the State Department or members of the US Congress, tried to disarm Hezbollah.
This is what the US wants from the Lebanese and the Lebanese government. This is because we are very well aware that if the weapons of the Hezbollah Resistance are disarmed, they will lead Lebanon in the direction the United States is seeking in relation to the New Middle East and in regulating the local situation based on US and Israeli interests.
Lebanon is undoubtedly not transferred to regional and international alignments and is not an easy prey in the hands of others.
The Lebanese position is, if the Lebanese government agrees to disarm the Hezbollah Resistance movement, how will this weapon be disarmed? In principle, the US and Israel want the Hezbollah resistance to disarming. However, disarmament operations are not easy to carry out. In other words, if the handover of weapons is made prior to guarantees that must be provided for Lebanon’s security, then it is necessary for Israel to form an army in Lebanon to prevent future attacks against the country. Meanwhile, the Hezbollah Resistance movement cannot hand over its weapons and surrender to Zionist enemies.
Here, if the Lebanese government wants to disarm resistance by relying on power, then we need to rethink how to disarm the resistance movement, as this means plunging Lebanon into a civil war, destroying the texture of the Lebanese people, destroying internal unity, and pushing Lebanon’s future and sovereignty into a dark tunnel. This is what the Zionist regime and its supporters want from Lebanon.
Q: The US agenda is completely clear. Hand over the weapon and wait for Netanyahu’s mood to decide what to give you! The US government does not give any guarantees in this regard and does not respect the safety and future of the Lebanese people! Do you think these positions respond to the concerns of the Lebanese people? Will the internal team of Lebanese prozionists continue to mimic the US position and put pressure on the resistance movement?
A: US envoys expressing American policies support daily infringement, not caring about the Zionist regime withdrawing from Lebanon’s land.
The five party committees, chaired by the US, should work to ensure that parties adhere to the ceasefire, but we can see that they have not made any efforts to make Zionists comply with the ceasefire for nine months.
The US government wants to disarm the resistance in all ways, and when Lebanese officials ask the US for guarantees of the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from Lebanon’s occupied territory, they say there is no U.S. guarantee and Israel is acting argitrally.
Therefore, there is concern that arms handover will be put under Zionist regime occupation, in this situation the US supports what the Zionist regime will do in Lebanon. It doesn’t matter whether this is a continuation of attacks and assassinations, an expansion of military operations, or a continuation of occupation in Lebanon.
This means they want Lebanon to surrender unconditionally.
The Israeli regime today states that villages in southern Lebanon are under military control. This means that citizens are not allowed to return to the village. In other areas, Lebanese are still prohibited from returning to cities and homes.
The Zionists also annexed East Al-Kud in 1981, disregarding international law and the 1948 resolution on East Al-Kud. Therefore, Zionists will undoubtedly annex other lands as long as the United States supports them (the Israeli regime), and in that case they cannot protect the land.
The Zionist regime and the United States should be very well aware that in this case the Lebanese will not be silent, as long as Israeli invasions threaten the Lebanese lands and people.
MA/6583144