Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem declared on Friday that Israel faces no alternative but to remove its forces from all occupied Lebanese territory. In a televised address coinciding with the religious observance of Ashura, Qassem characterized the recent arrangement between Iran and the United States aimed at de-escalating the conflict as a failure for both American and Israeli interests.
Thousands gathered in the southern suburbs of Beirut, displaying Hezbollah and Iranian flags during the group’s most significant rally since hostilities commenced in March. Qassem remained firm, stating, “Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land.” He explicitly ruled out any normalization or reduction in hostilities with Israel, maintaining that his group rejects any potential concessions to the state.
The current conflict, ignited by Hezbollah’s rocket fire in March following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, has resulted in over 4,200 fatalities according to Lebanese government figures. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations in Washington, including a failed truce in April, fighting has persisted. Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah remains committed to its objectives, honoring former leader Hassan Nasrallah and maintaining allegiance to Iranian leadership, regardless of the ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Tehran and Washington.
