Motorcycle convoys of black-clad Hezbollah supporters flooded the streets of Beirut on Tuesday, in a show of force that echoed the group’s infamous “Black Shirts” mobilizations of the past. The move came just minutes after Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered a fiery televised address rejecting U.S.-backed calls for disarmament.
The rallies coincided with a high-stakes Lebanese Cabinet session in Beirut, where ministers debated whether to restrict all weapons to state control—part of increasing international pressure, particularly from Washington.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing dozens of men dressed in black riding motorcycles through key areas of Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah’s main stronghold, with some convoys reaching the airport road. The scene evoked memories of the 2011 and 2019 ‘Black Shirts’ parades, when Hezbollah loyalists were deployed in similar fashion to intimidate rivals and assert dominance during political crises.
A correspondent for Erem News described the movements as “ominous and deliberate,” adding that residents feared a repeat of past incidents where Hezbollah-affiliated men in black attacked civilians and protesters.
In his speech, Qassem flatly rejected any timeline for surrendering Hezbollah’s weapons, particularly while what he called “Israeli aggression” against Lebanon continues. He also rebuked calls to weaken the resistance.
“Any disarmament timeline presented under the shadow of Israeli attacks is unacceptable,” Qassem said during a memorial event for an Iranian commander. “The state must resist pressure and threats—not strip the resistance of its strength.”
The coordinated street presence of the so-called “Black Shirts” appeared to reinforce Qassem’s message, escalating tension in Beirut as the disarmament debate intensifies.