Hezbollah Secretary-General: Resistance responds to Israeli-American aggression, defense is legitimate right
Sheikh Qassem noted in a speech that the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024, marked a new phase, which the party adhered to along with the Lebanese state, while the Israeli entity did not comply with any of its provisions, according to Hezbollah’s “Al-Manar” website.
He explained that the party agreed to the diplomatic track, but it achieved nothing over fifteen months, noting that repeated Israeli attacks were not responded to in order to avoid accusing the party of obstructing diplomacy, as the responsibility lies with the state.
He considered that this allowed the Lebanese state an opportunity to assume its responsibilities and test this option practically in implementing the agreement and protecting Lebanon and its sovereignty.
He stated that it has been repeatedly emphasized that patience has limits, and that the state must be more effective and that the Lebanese people should see results, noting that he does not evaluate the state’s performance but insists that patience has limits and that Israeli aggression has become excessive.
Sheikh Qassem said: “It was said that completing the army’s deployment south of the Litani River could help, and they were asked to be patient because this deployment could open the door to stopping the aggression and Israeli withdrawal, but this did not happen.”
He added that the Prime Minister of the Zionist entity, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared his desire for a “Greater Israel,” stating this openly before the world, noting that the U.S. ambassador inside the Israeli entity supports him when he claims that “it is a legitimate right from the Euphrates to the Nile for the state of Israel.”
He affirmed that “Israel is an existential threat to us, our people, our homeland, and the entire region.”
He stressed that domestic and some international and Arab pressures focus on limiting weapons, questioning: “Is the problem here?”
He confirmed that the problem lies in the occupation, not domestically, nor in weapons, resistance, or national components, but in the continuous violation of sovereignty and in the Israeli-American occupation of Lebanon, whether in the airspace or through oversight.
He considered that the Lebanese government’s decisions of August 5 and 7 were a “major sin” because they weakened the state’s position and legitimized Israeli freedom to attack.
He noted that concessions continued amid ongoing attacks, as if these attacks constituted direct pressure to develop diplomatic and political steps that would leave Lebanon without leverage, negotiating without power, and entering a path incompatible with its sovereignty and independence.
He emphasized that it is necessary to act in every possible way to stop this dangerous course resulting from continued Israeli-American aggression, which will inevitably lead Lebanon to lose national sovereignty and be forced into submission.
Responding to questions about timing, Qassem asked: “Are we supposed to wait endlessly?” noting that it has been repeatedly said that everything has limits.
He questioned whether fifteen months of daily violations are not enough, and whether the killing of about 500 martyrs during these fifteen months, at the rate of one martyr per day, is not enough, in addition to two wounded per day and the demolition of houses.
He noted that United Nations and Lebanese army statistics speak of more than ten thousand land, sea, and air violations, while usually only two, three, or four are mentioned, but there are ten thousand violations “and no one responds.”
He stated that the Israeli entity bulldozed houses and lands in the border areas and villages far beyond what it did during the “Awali al-Bas” battle, and kidnapped citizens from various regions of Lebanon, considering this proof that this entity reckons nothing and seeks to demonstrate its ability to kill, demolish, kidnap, and impose political decisions on Lebanon, up to genocide against those who resist or confront it.
He affirmed that the missile salvo launched in one batch was a response to the Israeli-American aggression on Lebanon, stressing that these missiles are not the cause of the attack and the Zionist battle, but are a response to fifteen months of violations and the Zionist desecration of everything related to Lebanon, including targeting the senior religious authority, Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
He said that the missile salvo launched by the resistance was a serious step to dispel any illusion that the enemy would remain silent if ignored, noting that this illusion is wrong, as evidenced by the fact that the missile salvo was the reason the Israeli entity opened the war.
He explained that during 36 to 48 hours, the number of martyrs exceeded 40, and the wounded 250, most of them civilians, including men, women, and children in their homes, with wide destruction of buildings in various areas, all occurring before the eyes of the world.
He also noted that “Israel” displaced more than 85 villages and towns and destroyed property, including Al-Qard al-Hasan centers, a social financial institution serving the needy and poor, benefiting hundreds of thousands of Lebanese of different sects, religions, and regions. Israel also targeted Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour radio, an attack on a media voice.
He considered Israeli claims about links between these sites and the resistance meaningless, stating that what happened is a war of extermination and targeting Lebanese existence and the resistance.
Sheikh Qassem indicated that the Israeli aggression was not a response to the missile salvo, but had been premeditated, affirming that Zionist media and statements by some officials show that they prepared the aggression, set its objectives, and called up 100,000 reservists to focus on the north, preparing the attack without it being a direct response to the missiles, making it clear to the world that this aggression is part of the Israeli project in Lebanon.
He said Hezbollah was informed through intermediaries about a month before the war on Iran, regarding the possibility of Hezbollah’s intervention if war occurred in Iran, clarifying that the Israeli aggression on Lebanon was preplanned and not linked to the party’s involvement, and that Israel did not abandon its plan to attack Lebanon, but organized its timing to strike Lebanon first, before Iran, according to Israel’s chosen schedule.
He added that the Lebanese government, instead of condemning the Israeli-American aggression and seeking ways to confront it, turned to the resistance to complete its “sin” and align with Israeli demands, considering this an unacceptable stance toward Lebanese sovereignty and the villages under attack.
He emphasized that the real reason for launching the missile salvo is not the missiles themselves, but the continuation of the planned Israeli-American aggression, asserting that the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right under human, legal, and international law, as well as the Taif Agreement and all divine laws, even in the government’s oath and statement, because confrontation must occur in the appropriate way.
He clarified that this right is not up for debate, and Hezbollah and its resistance respond to aggression by defending the people, the resistance, and the homeland, as an existential defense that will continue until objectives are achieved.
He noted that Israel sought a battle to the utmost limits, but the resistance’s choice is continuous confrontation and defense with its capabilities and faith, regardless of sacrifices, despite asymmetry in resources, affirming that the resistance seeks to foil the objectives of the Israeli-American enemy and reject its projects, preserving the legacy entrusted by the leaders and martyrs, including Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, with emphasis on steadfastness and continuity.
He confirmed that the Lebanese government has a responsibility to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, defend its people, and protect the resistance’s right until the aggression stops and Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory, and to assume responsibility toward all citizens.
Sheikh Qassem pointed out that the displacement imposed by Israel aims to create a rift between the resistance and the people, stressing that the displaced citizens are people of honor, dignity, and sacrifice, and that the constant cohesion between the resistance and the people broke the aggression’s objectives in the “Awali al-Bas” battle.
He called for patience and faith among the Lebanese in facing the aggression and displacement during this holy month.
He emphasized that the Israeli occupation of Lebanon kills people and destroys property indiscriminately across all Lebanese regions, stressing that this aggression targets all of Lebanon, and everyone in Lebanon bears responsibility to confront it.
He highlighted that national unity is increasingly important under these circumstances, calling for the use of all energies, capabilities, political and religious forces, and personal and regional resources.
He stressed the need to unify efforts to confront the Israeli enemy as a priority before discussing other issues and reaching agreements on them.
He stated that fighting in Lebanon aims to defend the people, the future of the children, and the homeland, and to confront the direct targeting of Lebanon, emphasizing that this fighting is not linked to any other battle, and that the main goal of the resistance is to stop the Israeli-American aggression and enforce Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese lands.
He noted that hosting displaced people at this stage is a national responsibility requiring everyone’s cooperation, and that the government and its official bodies and ministries are responsible for providing necessary services to displaced Lebanese citizens.
He also affirmed that Hezbollah will assume its responsibilities toward the Lebanese people, doing its utmost, calling on civil society, parties, forces, associations, institutions, religious authorities, and all stakeholders to contribute to this vital social work, citing past experience showing the Lebanese society’s ability to stand in solidarity during crises.
He stressed that opponents of the resistance have an opportunity to open a new page together, emphasizing that the resistance must not be undermined during the confrontation and war, as this positively affects the success of the confrontation and accelerates results in stopping the Israeli-American aggression.
He called on everyone to unite so that Lebanon stands as one, facilitating cooperation and achieving national objectives.