Beirut [Lebanon], April 27 (ANI): Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem on Monday reaffirmed the group’s refusal to enter into direct talks with Israel, saying such negotiations are “out of the question” and pledging continued resistance to what he called Israeli “aggression”, Al Jazeera reported.
Qassem insisted Hezbollah will not disarm and highlighted the group’s readiness for confrontation. “We will not give up weapons, and the defence and the field have proven our readiness for confrontation,” he said.
He also criticised the Lebanese government’s handling of the issue, accusing authorities of making “an unnecessary and gratuitous concession.” Qassem said Beirut should halt direct negotiations with Israel and instead pursue indirect talks.
Separately, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops carried out operations in southern Lebanon on Sunday against “imminent threats.” The IDF statement said soldiers identified three individuals approaching an area south of the Forward Defense Line who posed an imminent danger to forces on the ground. The Israeli Air Force struck and killed the suspects to neutralise the threat, the military said.
The IDF added that additional strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, including the headquarters of the Bint Jbeil sector and other military structures. Following the strikes, the military reported secondary explosions at the sites, indicating the presence of stored weapons.
“The IDF will continue to operate decisively against threats directed at Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, in accordance with directives from the political echelon,” the statement said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the start of a government meeting on Sunday, warned that Hezbollah’s actions are undermining the ceasefire in Lebanon and said Israel would continue to use force to protect communities along its northern border.
“One might get the impression that the IDF is not active there. It is active, and it is acting with force. It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are essentially disintegrating the ceasefire,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel’s primary obligation is to safeguard its citizens, soldiers, and border communities.
Netanyahu said Israeli operations in Lebanon are conducted under agreed rules with the United States and within coordination frameworks that also involve Lebanon.
On April 23, US President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and said the United States would work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
