HEZBOLLAH DEMANDS ISRAEL WITHDRAW FROM LEBANON UNCONDITIONALLY

Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated on Friday that Israel must withdraw from Lebanon without conditions and in a "humiliated" state. Speaking during a televised address marking Ashura, a 10-day Shiite Muslim mourning period, Qassem rejected any normalisation with Israel or end to hostilities between the two. He described Iran as the "path to salvation" and said Hezbollah would resist what he characterised as "Israeli-American aggression and occupation."

Israel launched military operations against Hezbollah after the group opened a support front for Gaza on 8 October 2023, killing senior leadership figures and degrading military infrastructure whilst reoccupying parts of southern Lebanon. The Israeli campaign significantly weakened Hezbollah but did not eliminate it, according to Qassem's account. Hezbollah resumed fighting in March following a period of rebuilding. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, official figures released on Friday recorded 4,230 deaths and 12,179 wounded since 2 March, with approximately 1.2 million people displaced from southern Lebanon.

Qassem called on Lebanese authorities to cease implementing what he termed "the enemy's dictates" and rejected any settlement that did not preserve Lebanon's full sovereignty. He stated that any commitment compromising Lebanese sovereignty would not be accepted and that no partial Israeli presence on Lebanese territory would be tolerated. His remarks came as Lebanon and Israel pursued direct negotiations to end the conflict, negotiations which Hezbollah has opposed.