Hezbollah chief praises Iran's victory against aggressors

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed a gathering of Hezbollah on the occasion of Martyr’s Day on Wednesday, according to Al-Manar TV. In his speech, he described Martyr’s Day as a day for all those who are missing and wounded, the families of the martyrs, and Hezbollah’s journey, which he said was envisioned as a journey for the entire nation.

Sheikh Qassem stated that the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the region is fully backed by the United States and is part of a broader, dangerous project. He noted that the occupation project began with Britain’s role in establishing Israel in 1948 and has always been one of extermination, displacement, and the destruction of Palestine’s infrastructure. He added that the world remains silent as Gaza endures mass casualties and destruction, while major powers and the UN fail to act against this blatant crime.

The Hezbollah chief rejected claims that Lebanon’s problem is the Resistance’s entry into the support war, asserting that the problem is the occupation. He said the Israeli occupation was already there and seeking to expand; the support front is not the cause of what is happening in Lebanon; resistance is a response, a confrontation and a means of liberation. He stressed that amid this grave threat, confronting aggression requires resistance by the army, the people, the Resistance, and all those capable of taking up arms across the region. He emphasized that unity of the resistance arenas means cooperation in resisting and expelling the occupier, while the US pressures countries to join its alliance of aggression. In Lebanon, he said, we must work together to defend our land, protect our sovereignty and prevent our enemies from controlling us.

Sheikh Qassem warned that Israel seeks to strip Lebanon of its strength to occupy its land and establish settlements, while some accept occupation but reject resistance. He called on the Lebanese state to equip the army to confront Israel militarily and support the people in becoming its allies in resisting the occupation. He also called on the Lebanese authorities to stop discussing disarmament under Israeli aggression, as this is an Israeli-American demand. He pointed out that the framework agreement’s two main flaws are opening the door to Israel without securing any gains for Lebanon and making concessions before negotiations even begin, without receiving anything in return.

Regarding recent political developments, Sheikh Qassem said that Trump suffered a crushing electoral defeat, and Netanyahu was also defeated; Iran, the Resistance across the region, and free peoples worldwide all played a role in their downfall. The speech was reported by Al-Manar TV and covered by Mehr News Agency.