ALWAGHT- Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem says Lebanon must confront ‘dangerous, expansionist Israeli aggression’ by any means necessary.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, speaking at a ceremony honoring martyred scholars, warned that Lebanon is facing “dangerous, expansionist” Israeli aggression. He accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement reached last year, while Lebanon and its resistance movements have adhered to it. Qassem asserted that Israel’s aim is not to disarm the resistance but to occupy Lebanese territory and advance the so-called “Greater Israel” vision, which Israeli leaders describe as including parts of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories.
Qassem emphasized that Lebanon has pursued diplomatic solutions to counter Israeli aggression, with Hezbollah supporting government efforts. However, he stressed that the US and Israel must not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs or its defense strategy. He described the country’s defensive capabilities and the weapons of the resistance as non-negotiable, declaring Hezbollah’s readiness to defend Lebanon and its people at all costs.
The Hezbollah chief criticized US-backed proposals aimed at disarming the resistance, warning that such measures would not satisfy Israel’s expansionist ambitions. He claimed these plans seek to dismantle Hezbollah’s presence, restrict its resources, prevent social services, and ultimately abolish its role in defending Lebanon. Qassem highlighted that Israel’s past withdrawal from Beirut was only possible due to the resistance’s military pressure and called on the Lebanese government to protect national sovereignty, strengthen the economy, and uphold a national project based on independence and dignity.
Since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, 2024, Israel has allegedly violated the agreement thousands of times, including by keeping forces at five sites in Lebanon in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Qassem noted that these violations threaten Lebanon’s stability, underlining Hezbollah’s position that defending the country and maintaining a credible resistance remains essential against ongoing Israeli aggression.
