US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticized the leader of the Islamist Hezbollah militia for saying that the Lebanese people had the right to rise up against the government.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem on Sunday evening accused the government of failing to defend the country in its conflict with Israel.
“The people have the right to take to the streets and bring down the government,” Qassem said in a televised speech. “If this government is unable to establish sovereignty, then it should leave.”
Rubio said Qassem’s comments showed Hezbollah was trying to drag Lebanon “back into chaos and destruction.”
“We will not allow Hezbollah’s threats of violence to prevail,” Rubio said in a statement.
'Preserving Lebanon'
Qassem described the Lebanese government as an “American-Israeli project targeting the institutions of the country.”
He rejected renewed calls for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
“We will keep our weapons in our hands until the Lebanese state is able to fulfil its duty in protecting and preserving Lebanon, its people and its resources,” he said, according to Hezbollah’s al-Manar television channel.
Lebanon and Israel have been holding direct political talks since mid-April, mediated by the United States in Washington. The disarmament of Hezbollah is a central issue in the negotiations, although the group itself is not participating.
Analysts and political observers have warned that any attempt to forcibly disarm Hezbollah could plunge Lebanon into another major crisis. Some fear a repeat of the events of May 2008, when clashes erupted in Beirut after the government attempted to dismantle Hezbollah’s telecommunications network.
The fighting between Hezbollah supporters and pro-government factions left dozens dead.
