Hezbollah Chief Sees US Election Setbacks as Positive for Lebanon, Cites Resistance to Disarmament

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has expressed optimism regarding the Republican party's setbacks in the recent US midterm elections and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's less-than-stellar performance in Israeli polls, viewing these developments as beneficial for Lebanon. Speaking on Wednesday during a commemoration event for members of the group killed by Israel, Qassem characterized the US election outcomes as an "earthquake" and the Israeli elections as a "defeat." Netanyahu's bloc failed to secure the 61 seats necessary for maintaining power following the October 27 vote.

Qassem stated that these results bode well for Lebanon and underscore the nation's need to resist the Trump administration's pressure to disarm the group. "Come, let us rebuild our country together, save it from the darkness of failure, and protect it from the empty rhetoric of those who sow discord and those who rely on American tutelage," he declared via video link. He emphasized that Lebanon is a shared responsibility, with all citizens being partners in its construction and in the cost of safeguarding its sovereignty.

The Hezbollah leader reiterated the group's refusal to relinquish its weapons, citing the ongoing Israeli military occupation of parts of southern Lebanon as justification. "There will be no state monopoly on the resistance’s weapons, no regulation, no prohibition, and no disarmament under Israeli occupation," Qassem asserted. He assumed leadership after the assassinations of former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Safieddine in 2024. The article also references surprise attacks by the US and Israel on Iran in February, leading to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and subsequent retaliation by Hezbollah, which resulted in intense Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, causing significant casualties and displacement.

Qassem also commended Iran's action in closing the Strait of Hormuz, which he believes contributed to a surge in global oil prices and disrupted shipping routes, thereby diminishing American and Israeli influence in the region. US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also linked the Iran war and subsequent fuel price increases to the Republican electoral losses.

Furthermore, Qassem cautioned Lebanese authorities against entering into agreements that align with Israeli interests, urging them instead to prioritize domestic issues. "Why are you binding yourselves before the world to positions that serve the Israeli project?" he questioned, referencing Israel's continued occupation of southern Lebanon and the destruction of numerous villages. Despite a US-mediated ceasefire in June, Israel has continued its bombing campaigns in the region.