Taëf and Weapons Control: Salam Stands for State Restoration, Hezbollah Holds Its Ground

Amid rising internal debate over Hezbollah’s arms and the future of the Lebanese state, Prime Minister Najib Mikati reiterated the importance of restricting weapons to state institutions only. He stressed that the path to reclaiming state authority lies in the full implementation of the Taëf Agreement and correcting the deviations that have plagued its enforcement.

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Speaking on Sunday, Salam pointed out that the Lebanese state has failed, since the signing of the Taëf Agreement, to effectively ensure that only legitimate institutions bear arms.

He emphasized that without returning to the logic of one unified state and one legitimate source of arms, there can be no talk of true sovereignty, nor of meaningful economic or political recovery.

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A Cautious Position from Hezbollah

In response, during a speech marking Ashura, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, stated that the party is open to any effort aimed at state-building and cooperation for stability and national revival. He asserted that Hezbollah is ready for peace and reconstruction as much as it is prepared for confrontation and defense.

While showing willingness for internal dialogue, Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah’s unwavering commitment to its resistance stance.

He declared: “We will not be part of any initiative that legitimizes Israeli occupation. The aggression must stop — not the resistance.”

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Resistance Coupled with Conditional Flexibility

Qassem added: “Threats and attempts to impose conditions will not push us to abandon our principles. We are a people who do not submit, yet we possess enough flexibility to build the state — if the political will exists.”

On the issue of UN Resolution 1701, Qassem noted that Hezbollah does not oppose its implementation, but emphasized that this should only proceed after a political and security agreement is reached regarding the preliminary phase.

He concluded that the party is ready for dialogue in a balanced framework that preserves national sovereignty and dignity.

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