Hezbollah Leader Qassem Warns Israel to Withdraw from Lebanon, Praises Iran on Ashura

Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem delivered a sharp Ashura speech on Friday morning, urging Israel to leave Lebanon entirely and warning that it would depart “humiliated and defeated.” He said Israel must withdraw from every part of Lebanese territory unconditionally, and added, “All the solutions must be based on full Lebanese sovereignty and absolute independence.”

Qassem accused Israel of remaining in Lebanon because it wants to conquer it as part of a so-called “Greater Israel,” and said the resistance emerged because of aggression and occupation. His remarks were presented as a response to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Israel remains in Lebanon because Hezbollah continues firing. Qassem also rejected any normalization with Israel, saying there would be “no normalization” and “no achievements for Israel.”

He devoted much of the speech to praising Iran, saying that despite the aggression, “Iran stood firm and succeeded.” He claimed Iran had reached a memorandum of understanding that amounted to a formal declaration of defeat for the United States and Israel, and said Iran is now shaping the future for itself and the wider region. “Thank you, Iran,” he said.

The speech came as U.S.-mediated talks are underway in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, while officials in Jerusalem fear a deal that would strengthen the Iranian-backed “resistance axis” in the region. Qassem said he was extending a hand to the Lebanese government and urged it to seize the opportunity, warning that it cannot be in conflict with more than half of the Lebanese people. He told Lebanese authorities to stop following “the enemy’s instructions” and to stop making decisions that serve American and Israeli interests. His comments followed a sharp attack on Hezbollah by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who said traitors are those who drag their country into war.