Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem asserted that the battlefield holds the decisive word, emphasizing that successful policy is one that leverages the results of the battlefield to impose power balances that force Israel to comply, thus ensuring—as he put it—Lebanon's rights and sovereignty within a national framework that preserves unity and prevents discord and foreign interventions.
Qassem said in a statement that the temporary ceasefire would not have been achieved without the "jihad of the fighters on the southern front," describing their performance as "legendary," and affirming that they faced Israel and the United States despite the imbalance of power.
He added that what he described as "faith, will, and capability" constituted a fundamental source of strength, praising the role of the Lebanese people of all sects in supporting the resistance and bearing the consequences of the war, considering that "all of Lebanon is its south."
He pointed out that the resistance succeeded in halting the advance of the Israeli army and prevented it from achieving its goals despite its large deployment of forces. He also thanked the fighters, the Lebanese people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in addition to regional and international parties that supported the ceasefire, including Pakistan.
Qassem criticized the statement issued by the US Department of State regarding the ceasefire, considering it an "insult to Lebanon" and imposing a negotiation format that does not reflect the decision of the Lebanese government, asserting his rejection of any foreign dictates or representation of Lebanon without official consent.
The resistance will remain in the field
He stressed that the ceasefire means a complete halt to hostilities from both sides, asserting that the resistance will remain in the field and will respond to any breaches, rejecting the sufficiency of the diplomatic path during the previous period.
In this context, Qassem outlined the five points he said must be implemented after the ceasefire, which are:
- A permanent halt to the aggression against all of Lebanon by air, land, and sea.
- Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories to the international borders.
- The release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
- The return of residents to their villages and towns in the border areas.
- The initiation of a reconstruction process with international and Arab support and national responsibility.
Qassem confirmed that Hezbollah is open to cooperating with the Lebanese state in a new phase based on national unity, preventing discord, and developing a national security strategy that leverages elements of strength, while rejecting any foreign guardianship or Israeli political investment in the Lebanese interior.
He added, "The resistance was not defeated, but stood firm and faced challenges," noting that the sacrifices of the martyrs, the wounded, and the people will keep Lebanon proud and capable of continuing to face challenges.
