Hezbollah's Qassem rejects direct Lebanese-Israeli talks, says resistance will continue

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem strongly criticized the ongoing direct Lebanese-Israeli talks and rejected any effort to link a ceasefire or political settlement to the disarmament of the group, insisting that resistance operations would continue as long as Israeli military actions and occupation persist.

In a wide-ranging speech, Qassem thanked Iran for what he described as its support for Lebanon's efforts to recover its territory and confront what he called Israeli and American aggression. He also praised Tehran's role in seeking a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon as part of broader efforts to halt regional hostilities.

Qassem argued that any security arrangement requiring Hezbollah to cease fire and withdraw its fighters from South Lebanon while Israeli military operations continue would amount to "surrender and defeat" and would fulfill Israel's objectives.

The Hezbollah leader sharply criticized the direct negotiations taking place between Lebanon and Israel, describing them as futile and humiliating. He claimed that recent U.S. announcements regarding Lebanon reflected principles favored by Washington and Israel that, in his view, sought to impose conditions on Lebanon.

According to Qassem, Hezbollah's priority remains achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, ending Israeli military operations, securing an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and obtaining the release of detainees. He stressed that there should be no distinction between South Lebanon and the rest of the country when it comes to ending hostilities.

He further stated that Hezbollah had not committed to refraining from responding to Israeli military actions and warned that as long as Lebanese villages remain under attack and residents face displacement and destruction, Israeli settlements would not be immune from retaliation.

Qassem also rejected any attempt to make the disarmament of Hezbollah a prerequisite for a political agreement, arguing that such a move would weaken Lebanon's ability to defend itself and threaten the country's stability. He maintained that questions related to resistance, weapons, and national defense should be addressed exclusively through internal Lebanese dialogue and within a nationally agreed security strategy.

The Hezbollah chief called on Lebanese authorities to pursue policies aimed at restoring national unity and addressing internal divisions, which he said had been exacerbated by recent political choices. He urged officials to prioritize confronting Israeli actions and to abandon what he described as direct negotiations that do not serve Lebanon's interests.

Qassem reiterated that Hezbollah views the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty as the central objective, which he said requires a complete cessation of Israeli military operations by land, sea, and air, a withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the deployment of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River, and the reconstruction of affected areas.