U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly denounced threats made by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem to overthrow the Lebanese government. In a statement, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. stands firmly behind Lebanon's democratically elected government as it strives to restore its authority and improve conditions for its citizens. He condemned Hezbollah's ongoing violence, which includes attacks on Israeli positions and the movement of fighters and weapons into southern Lebanon, characterizing these actions as part of a campaign to destabilize the country. Rubio asserted that such threats of violence will not succeed, stating, "The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end." He reiterated U.S. support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to rebuild the nation while condemning Hezbollah's attempts to drag Lebanon back into chaos. Qassem's remarks were made during a speech commemorating the anniversary of the Israeli Defense Forces' withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, where he also praised Hezbollah's military operations against Israel.