Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem called for global opposition to US policies, defended the resistance, and warned that Lebanon’s stability cannot be separated from ending Israeli aggression.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem called on Saturday for a global movement—at the level of states and peoples—to confront US policies, as Israel continues its military attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement in place since late 2024.
In a televised speech, Qassem said the United States, under President Donald Trump, seeks to interfere across the world to suppress political, religious, and democratic life, accusing Washington of exploiting power at the expense of peoples’ rights and sovereignty.
He said recent unrest in Iran was part of a long-running effort to weaken the Islamic Republic, stressing that Iran has withstood decades of pressure and would remain, in his words, a “stronghold of resistance.”
Resistance and Lebanon’s Stability
Addressing the situation in Lebanon, Qassem warned that attempts to dismantle the resistance would endanger the country as a whole.
“If the resistance and its environment do not survive, Lebanon will not survive,” he said, arguing that liberation and sovereignty must precede any discussion about limiting weapons. He insisted that arms are a purely Lebanese matter and that Israel has no role in determining Lebanon’s internal security arrangements.
Qassem questioned who could guarantee that Israel would not continue attacking Lebanon if the resistance were disarmed, saying that calls to limit weapons ultimately serve Israeli and US objectives.
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Israeli Violations
Qassem said Israel has failed to implement any part of the ceasefire agreement, despite Lebanon’s adherence to its terms. He described Israel’s continued attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and territory as unacceptable and warned that ongoing violations could not continue indefinitely.
Israel has carried out repeated airstrikes, shelling, and demolitions in southern and eastern Lebanon, while maintaining control over several strategic hills seized during the latest war. These violations, he said, have left Lebanon with “zero sovereignty” for more than a year.
Criticism of Foreign Minister
Qassem also sharply criticized Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, accusing him of operating outside government policy and aligning with Israel’s interpretation of ceasefire agreements.
He said the foreign minister’s statements—suggesting Israel had the right to continue attacks if Hezbollah was not fully disarmed—were inflammatory and risked internal strife. Qassem called on the Lebanese government to address what he described as a serious dysfunction within the Foreign Ministry, either by correcting the minister’s stance or replacing him.
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Building the State and National Unity
On the question of state-building, Qassem stressed that sovereignty and liberation form the foundation of any political process. He warned that debates over disarmament before securing sovereignty amount to external pressure designed to weaken Lebanon from within.
He emphasized that Hezbollah continues to cooperate with the Lebanese state and said that national unity remains essential to confronting Israeli aggression and US pressure.
Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire with Hezbollah since November 2024, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, while maintaining its occupation of Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials and media have repeatedly warned that these ongoing attacks threaten stability and undermine any prospect of lasting calm.
(PC, Al-Mayadeen, AJA)
