Hezbollah's Qassem says resistance, army, and people "combined" achieved liberation

The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said that what he described as the “victory of liberation” was the result of cooperation between the resistance, the army, and the Lebanese people.

In remarks addressing recent political and security developments, Qassem said that on November 27, 2024, the Lebanese state reached an indirect agreement with Israel aimed at ending what he called the state of aggression. He added that Hezbollah enabled the state, through its institutions, to deploy the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River.

Qassem said that 15 months of diplomatic efforts had failed, claiming that while Lebanon and Hezbollah had complied with understandings, Israel had not respected any commitments.

He accused Lebanese authorities of making what he described as “concessions one after another,” urging them to reverse what he called dangerous decisions. He added that sanctions imposed on the group would only increase its resilience.

The Hezbollah leader also said the Lebanese state was weak and unable to invest effectively, saying officials admit they are “incapable,” but should tell the United States rather than the Lebanese people.

Qassem warned that disarmament efforts would amount to stripping Lebanon of its defensive capabilities as a prelude to what he described as destruction, adding that such proposals were unacceptable.

He said Hezbollah was not asking the state to confront what he called the Israeli-American project, but rather not to facilitate it, warning against becoming instruments of foreign agendas. He also questioned how the state could oppose its own people or align politically with Israel.