BEIRUT — Hezbollah’s military wing has no plans to disarm in the near future, a senior representative of the Lebanese militant group said in a recent briefing amid ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. Youssef al-Zein, the group’s media-relations director, emphasized that Hezbollah continues to rebuild and rearm following significant losses sustained during its 2024 conflict with Israel.

Speaking Friday in Beirut, al-Zein described Hezbollah’s capacity to restore its military capabilities as remarkably resilient, noting that the group’s recovery surprised many observers. Two months ago, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into Israel, aligning with its primary patron Iran in the broader regional conflict involving Israel and the United States. The recent escalation has compounded pressures on Lebanon’s fragile political landscape, prompting concern from Lebanese leaders weary of continued involvement in border hostilities.

The current truce between Israel and Lebanon does not formally include Hezbollah, and the militant group’s defiance complicates prospects for a lasting peace. The U.S. and Israel have called for the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, a move widely viewed by Lebanese officials and analysts as potentially triggering renewed civil strife in a country still haunted by a long history of internal conflict.

Al-Zein asserted that Israel violated terms of the 2024 cease-fire by maintaining military presence in southern Lebanon and conducting thousands of strikes within Lebanese territory. According to him, these actions justified Hezbollah’s decision to rearm and maintain its armed presence, particularly in border villages that the group considers strategically vital. While Hezbollah has cooperated with Lebanese army efforts to dismantle positions near the border, al-Zein stated that it would resist disarmament efforts throughout the rest of Lebanon as long as Israeli troops remain stationed on Lebanese soil.

Hezbollah has also adopted new tactics, including employing fiber-optic guided explosive drones, to enhance its operational capabilities. Despite the group facing unprecedented domestic criticism, legal restrictions on its military activities, and calls for disarmament, Hezbollah officials remain confident that the Lebanese military lacks both the capacity and political will to confront the organization forcefully. Former Lebanese army officers share this assessment, emphasizing the need for broader economic, social, and diplomatic strategies alongside any military measures.

“After years of fighting, the Israeli military hasn’t been able to disarm Hezbollah. So how can we expect the Lebanese military to do so?” said Khalil Helou, a retired Lebanese general opposed to the group.

This unresolved status frustrates officials in the U.S. and Israel, who continue to press Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to engage in peace negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Hezbollah rejects direct government-level talks, maintaining that its involvement in the latest regional conflict was a response to attacks against Iran—its principal ally—and the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Al-Zein framed Hezbollah’s confrontation with Israel as both inevitable and a religious duty tied to the defense of Shiite authority represented by Khamenei. He compared the religious significance to that of global Catholic reverence for the pope, suggesting that attacks on such a figure demand response from adherents worldwide.

The persistence of Hezbollah’s armed status underscores enduring complexities in Lebanon’s security and political landscape, as regional and international actors seek a durable resolution to the ongoing hostilities.