Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem says Republican losses in the U.S. midterm elections and setbacks for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could benefit Lebanon, while renewing his refusal to surrender the group’s weapons under Israeli occupation.

In a video-link speech on Wednesday honouring Hezbollah members killed by Israel and their families, Qassem described the American election results as an “earthquake” and the Israeli outcome as a “defeat,” according to reporting by Al Jazeera’s Tracy J. Jawad.

Netanyahu’s bloc fell short of the 61 seats needed to remain in power after Israel’s Oct. 27 election, Al Jazeera reported. Qassem argued that the results strengthened the case for resisting the Trump administration’s push to disarm Hezbollah.

“Lebanon belongs to all of us. We are partners in building it and sharing the cost of protecting its sovereignty,” he said.

The Iran-backed group remains in a standoff with U.S.-backed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun over its weapons. Washington seeks Hezbollah’s disarmament, while the group maintains that relinquishing its arsenal would amount to surrendering to Israel.

“There will be no state monopoly on the resistance’s weapons, no regulation, no prohibition, and no disarmament under Israeli occupation,” Qassem said.

His remarks came against the backdrop of continued Israeli occupation and strikes in southern Lebanon. Although Israel and Lebanon negotiated a U.S.-mediated ceasefire in June, Israeli bombing has continued, Al Jazeera reported.

The report traced the latest escalation to surprise U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah subsequently fired missiles and drones into Israel, followed by weeks of intense Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities say more than 4,300 people were killed, while the United Nations put displacement at around one million.

Qassem also praised Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the resulting disruption to shipping and higher oil prices would weaken American and Israeli influence. He warned Lebanese authorities against commitments serving Israeli goals and urged them to concentrate on domestic issues.

Sources