The vice-president of Hezbollah's political bureau, Mahmoud Qomati, during his interview with Al Jazeera on March 6, 2026. Screenshot.
BEIRUT — Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political bureau, criticized in an interview with Al Jazeera Media Network the government’s decision to ban the group’s activities and confiscate its weapons, calling the move a “shame” and comparing it to the stance of the Vichy government toward the French Resistance during World War II.
Qomati said Hezbollah would not cooperate with the implementation of the decision but would remain committed to the national alliance and cooperation with other “resistance” factions. He argued that the Lebanese government’s move contradicts national sovereignty, the cease-fire agreement reached in November 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah, and international law.
Cabinet adopted the decision Monday. Three days later, it also decided to ban any activity by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon.
Qomati added that the “Lebanese resistance” continues to wage battles along the southern border, claiming the Israeli army has suffered heavy losses in tanks and troops despite attempts to advance at several points, and that missiles and drones fired by the group continue to strike Israeli positions.
He said the situation on the ground differs from media portrayals, alleging that Israel is concealing its losses and that residents of northern Israel have begun to flee. He also called for “the immediate implementation of the cease-fire agreement and the complete end of violations in Lebanon.”
