Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has said the Lebanese resistance movement would not surrender or lay down its weapons in response to Israeli threats despite mounting pressure to disarm. The Lebanese government under pressure from the Zionist regime and Western governments, most notably the United States and France have called on the resistance group to disarm and lay down its arms. This as many today attribute the integrity of Lebanons sovereignty to Hezbollahs arms, its determination, and protection of Lebanese soil.