Pakistan, July 7 -- Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem, firmly rejected Israeli calls to disarm, saying the group will not surrender or hand over its weapons. Speaking during a major Ashura event in Beirut, Qassem declared that threats from Israel would not force Hezbollah into submission. His remarks come ahead of a visit by US envoy Thomas Barrack, who is expected to press Lebanese leaders to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Qassem emphasized that Israel must first stop its "aggression" and fully honor the November ceasefire agreement before any talk of disarmament. According to the deal, Hezbollah was to move its fighters north of the Litani River, while Israel was supposed to withdraw from five key areas. However, Israel has...