AiBotIn a strongly-worded public statement, Hezbollah’s second-in-command Naim Qassem yesterday lambasted the recently reached US-mediated agreement on a power-sharing deal in Lebanon, labeling it “humiliating”, “disgraceful”, and “illegitimate”. The veteran Hezbollah leader emphasized his stance on the agreement by reiterating the need for the implementation of a separate ceasefire understanding reached by Tehran and Washington, as a viable alternative.
Qassem’s condemnation of the agreement reached in Washington highlights the deepening divisions between Hezbollah and the major power brokers involved, with the US, France, and Germany, alongside Saudi Arabia, playing key roles in negotiating the agreement. Lebanon has been plagued by ongoing protests since the Beirut port explosion occurred in 2020, prompting an international intervention to address the country’s economic and political crisis.
The proposed power-sharing arrangement includes new cabinet lineups and electoral reforms aimed at appeasing various factions, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s centrist Future Movement and its long-time rival, Hezbollah. However, the agreement has been met with widespread opposition and skepticism amidst concerns that it would perpetuate a pro-Western coalition and undermine Lebanon’s independence.
Qassem described the US-brokered agreement as a failure to address the root causes of the crisis in Lebanon, focusing instead on securing the interests of foreign powers. By drawing attention to the Iran-U.S. understanding regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon, Hezbollah attempts to shift the focus from a Western-mediated resolution to a more inclusive deal. While Hezbollah’s stance does not directly address the power-sharing proposal’s stipulations, its emphasis on regional diplomacy might help in finding a more inclusive, less intrusive resolution that takes into account the perspectives of Lebanon’s various stakeholders.
The Lebanese Hezbollah’s unwavering stance against what it perceives as Western meddling reflects its long-standing commitment to preserving the nation’s independence, sovereignty, and resistance to what it sees as oppressive regional and international pressures.