TABNAK, Jan 28: Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remarks in a televised speech aired live from the Lebanese capital Beirut on Monday evening.
“Victory in Gaza belongs to Palestinian people, the regional nations who supported them as well as all freedom-seeking people across the globe.”
The Hezbollah chief went on to say that the Israeli plot aimed at the destruction of the Gaza-based Palestinian Hamas resistance movement failed dismally, and exposed the Tel Aviv regime’s weakness. “The Zionist enemy would not have lasted a week without the unqualified American support,” he said.
Sheikh Qassem emphasized that resistance is a political, national and humanitarian option to confront the Israeli occupation and liberate occupied lands.
He stated that the objectives behind the unprecedentedly large-scale Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched by Gaza-based resistance groups against the usurping regime on October 7, 2023, have been achieved.
“The Israeli enemy failed the test of honor and humanity, and turned out to be a criminal entity working to exterminate human beings. Israel emerged as a war criminal and could not recover its captives by any means other than an agreement with Hamas,” the Hezbollah leader underscored.
Sheikh Qassem described the Israeli onslaughts on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip as acts of aggression unconditionally supported by the US and certain Western governments.
“The US and Israel wanted to put an end to the Resistance. It, however, withstood the scheme through legendary steadfastness and enormous sacrifices that yielded outstanding fruits.”
He stated that Hezbollah proved itself to be cohesive and capable of filling the leadership vacuum within days following the assassination of its secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a massive Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut in late September.
“Everyone saw who the heroes of the Resistance were. Our people made great and tremendous sacrifices, so the Resistance Front emerged cohesive and strong, revitalized, and worked to fill the vacancies within ten days.
“Resistance operations deterred the Israeli enemy, and did not allow it to advance on the Lebanese soil, except for hundreds of meters. We agreed with the Lebanese government to accept a ceasefire deal [with Israel], and this is a victory,” Sheikh Qassem stated.
He said Hezbollah’s defensive deterrent power has prompted people to believe that the group’s military power is at a level, where deterrence is sustainable.
The Hezbollah chief said whilst his group stood fully committed to the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli enemy violated it 1,350 times.
“The Zionist violations underline Lebanon’s need for resistance. A campaign was launched against us to sell the false notion of victory over the Resistance. The objective of demoralizing us has not been achieved and will never materialize. The Resistance has emerged triumphant and will always be victorious, thanks to its martyrs and sacrifices,” Sheikh Qassem said.
The Hezbollah secretary general stressed that Israeli forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon, and that his group does not accept any justification for extending the 60-day pullout deadline set by the ceasefire agreement with the Tel Aviv regime.
“We are facing an occupation force, which is attacking and refusing to withdraw. The Resistance has the right to respond in the proper form, nature, and timing.
“This is an occupation of Lebanese lands, and we call on everyone to assume their responsibility,” Sheikh Qassem stated.
The Hezbollah chief finally stressed the need for national unity in Lebanon.
