SAEDNEWS: Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem has declared the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon will not surrender to the foreign plots and will continue to defend the Lebanese lands against the potential Israeli aggression.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a speech on Sunday during a memorial ceremony marking the annual anniversary of the passing of the late founding Hezbollah leader Haj Mohammad Hasan Yaghi (Abu Salim). The ceremony was held in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek.
At the beginning of his speech, Qassem paid tribute to Mohammad Yaghi, describing him as a man whose life path was defined by resistance. He said that Yaghi’s early role models included Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Baqer al-Sadr, Imam Sayyed Mousa al-Sadr, Imam Khomeini, and Imam Khamenei.
Qassem also congratulated the Lebanese people on the occasion of Christmas and the beginning of the holy month of Rajab, and offered condolences over the passing of the prominent religious scholar Sheikh Rida Mahdi.
Addressing political and security developments, Qassem said that Lebanon is experiencing instability due to U.S. policies and ongoing Israeli attacks. He stated that Israeli military actions against Lebanon have continued despite the ceasefire agreement reached in 2024.
He described Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon as “bright and ongoing,” claiming that Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance, in cooperation with other factions, the Lebanese Army, and the Lebanese people, played a role in the liberation of Lebanon. He added that Hezbollah’s participation in Parliament and government has been characterized by what he described as integrity and contributions to state institutions.
Qassem said Lebanon is at a critical historical moment, warning that the country faces a choice between accepting what he described as U.S. and Israeli control or uniting nationally to preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He argued that calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament serve Israeli and U.S. interests, even when framed as efforts to establish a monopoly of arms under the authority of the state. According to him, such calls do not serve Lebanon’s national interests.
Referring again to the ceasefire, Qassem said that Lebanon has made commitments and concessions over the past year while Israeli attacks have continued. He warned that the loss of southern Lebanon would threaten the existence of the country as a whole, calling on Lebanese citizens to unite to protect and preserve the nation.
He stated that disarmament would aim to end the resistance, annex parts of Lebanon, and turn the remainder of the country into a tool for foreign influence. He also criticized the Lebanese government for making concessions without receiving anything in return, saying that Lebanon should take no further steps until Israel fulfills its obligations.
Qassem said that Israeli air, land, and naval operations must stop, that Israeli forces must fully withdraw, detainees must be released, and reconstruction must be completed.
He also affirmed the strength of Hezbollah’s alliance with the Amal Movement, saying the relationship remains solid and united.
Concluding his remarks, Qassem said that Hezbollah would not surrender and would continue to defend Lebanese territory, repeating his warning that Lebanon’s future depends on the protection of its southern regions and national unity.
