Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a speech on Saturday that Lebanon has entered a “new stage in the conflict” and a “new era,” as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanese territory despite the late 2024 ceasefire.

Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah’s weapons are strictly “a Lebanese issue,” insisting that Israel “has no right to intervene” in any discussion about the group’s disarmament.

He also accused Foreign Minister Youssef Reggie of “inciting civil war” after Reggie suggested in a recent interview that Israel could continue its military operations as long as Hezbollah’s weapons remain outside state control.

“Lebanon implemented the agreement, while Israel has not implemented anything from it,” Qassem said, noting that Israel’s acts of aggression have undermined the ceasefire and escalated tensions along the border.