The leader of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement repeated on Friday, August 28, that he rejects the framework agreement concluded between Lebanon and Israel. Naïm Qassem assured that his movement, weakened by two wars against the Israeli army, refuses to surrender. In a speech broadcast by Hezbollah’s Al-Manar channel, he stated: “We are opposed to the framework agreement and we call for it to be brought down.”
The agreement was concluded on June 26 under the auspices of the United States. It provides for the Lebanese army to reestablish its authority in the south of the country, subject to Hezbollah’s disarmament. This would happen first in “pilot zones” from which the Israeli army would withdraw. Furthermore, Qassem described the agreement as “illegitimate, illegal, and humiliating.” He added that it undermines Lebanese sovereignty and does not allow rights to be recovered.
In addition, he declared that they do not accept the “pilot zones” or what results from them. He also stressed that his group refuses the verification commission responsible for overseeing the agreement’s implementation. During their last talks in Rome in early August, Lebanon and Israel discussed which countries could participate in this commission. The commission would verify the Lebanese army’s deployment and the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure.
A new round of negotiations is planned for September, though no specific date has been set. The Shiite movement dragged Lebanon into the regional war by launching strikes on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2. This triggered massive airstrikes and an Israeli ground offensive that killed more than 4,300 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
However, violence has decreased since the framework agreement was signed in June. Nevertheless, sporadic Israeli strikes continue. They have intensified in recent days in the South, where a woman was killed on Friday, according to authorities. Israel has also established a “security zone” in the region, where its army is deployed.
Although Hezbollah has not claimed attacks against Israeli troops for more than two months, its leader assured on Friday evening that the Shiite movement “holds its head high and will not surrender.”
Reference
Le Monde, “Au Liban, le Hezbollah rejette à nouveau l’accord-cadre conclu avec Israël et refuse de se rendre,” published August 29, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/guerre-au-proche-orient/article/2026/08/29/au-liban-le-hezbollah-rejette-a-nouveau-l-accord-cadre-conclu-avec-israel-et-refuse-de-se-rendre_6759234_6325529.html