Hezbollah chief says rocket barrage response to ‘15 months of Israeli violations’

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that the group’s recent rocket barrage was a response to the 15 months of Israeli violations, warning that the group’s patience “has limits”.

In a televised address, Qassem said Hezbollah had adhered to the agreement reached with the Lebanese state, while accusing Israel of failing to respect any of its provisions. He argued that the diplomatic track supported by the group had yielded no results over the past fifteen months.

Qassem stated that Hezbollah had previously refrained from responding to repeated Israeli attacks in order to avoid being accused of undermining diplomatic efforts. However, he said the situation had reached a point where further restraint was no longer possible.

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He also accused Israel of pursuing expansionist ambitions, describing them as an existential threat to Lebanon and the wider region. In this context, he referred to remarks attributed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about what he characterised as a “Greater Israel”.

The Hezbollah leader criticised decisions taken by the Lebanese government on 5 and 7 August, calling them a “grave sin” that weakened Lebanon’s position and, in his view, legitimised Israeli actions.

According to Qassem, the recent missile salvo launched by Hezbollah was intended to respond to what he described as Israeli-American aggression and a long series of violations, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

He said the first barrage was meant to challenge the “illusion that the enemy will remain silent if we remain silent”, arguing that subsequent Israeli operations were not retaliation but part of a premeditated campaign.

Qassem concluded by criticising the Lebanese government, accusing it of failing to condemn Israeli actions and instead aligning itself with demands directed against the Lebanese resistance.

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