Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on May 12, 2026, that his group will exclude its arsenal from upcoming Lebanon-Israel negotiations, calling the talks “free concessions” to Israel and pledging to make the battlefield “hell” if necessary.
The third round of U.S.-facilitated talks is scheduled for May 14–15 in Washington, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire and the first direct meeting between the parties in decades.
Qassem called for the Lebanese government to withdraw from negotiations, labelling them as giving Israel undue gains.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that a peace deal is “eminently achievable,” but emphasised that Hezbollah remains a primary obstacle.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott added that comprehensive peace requires full Lebanese state authority restoration and complete Hezbollah disarmament.
Despite the April 17 truce, limited clashes continue. Israeli troops remain inside a “yellow line” buffer south of the Litani River, and Hezbollah maintains retaliatory strikes against Israeli military targets, citing responses to ceasefire violations.
Qassem highlighted that a broader Iran-U.S. agreement is the “strongest card” for regional stability, rather than bilateral talks.
