Hezbollah chief rejects US-Israeli ‘hegemony’ and backs timely Lebanese elections

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has said that Israel is “weaker today than ever before”, insisting that resistance in Lebanon cannot be halted.

In remarks addressing domestic and regional developments, Qassem said the resistance is constitutionally guaranteed and that “no one can stop the resistance in Lebanon”.

Commenting on what he described as American-Israeli hegemony in the region, Qassem said Lebanon would not serve as a conduit for Israeli ambitions. He characterised Israel as an occupying power and argued that its international standing had declined.

“Israel has become weaker than ever before because it is worthless without America and because it has failed to achieve a decisive victory,” he said, adding that the country had entered a phase of retreat.

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Qassem also said Hezbollah would remain committed to preventing Israel from achieving stability, arguing that the steadfastness of Lebanese and Palestinian forces had obstructed Israeli objectives.

Turning to domestic matters, he said Hezbollah had decided to provide shelter for displaced people for three months, acknowledging that such support is primarily the responsibility of the Lebanese state. He said the movement had stepped in due to the state’s inability to meet urgent needs.

Qassem further emphasised the importance of holding Lebanon’s parliamentary elections on schedule, stating that the party is working to ensure they take place.

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