Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a defiant written statement Tuesday morning, vowing that the terror organization will "neither surrender nor waive" its military campaign against Israel, regardless of the cost or duration.
The statement comes as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensify operations in Southern Lebanon, with the Golani Brigade reportedly establishing operational control over the strategic Litani River area.
Rejection of Direct Negotiations
In a direct challenge to the Lebanese government, Qassem called for an immediate end to direct negotiations with Israel. He characterized current diplomatic efforts as yielding "pure profits for Israel" and described them as "free concessions" by the Lebanese state.
Instead, Qassem pointed to a broader geopolitical solution:
- He asserted that the "Iranian-American agreement," which includes an end to aggression against Lebanon, is the most viable path to stopping the conflict.
- He outlined five "points of cooperation" for any ceasefire, including the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from "occupied territories," the release of prisoners, and the return of residents to their villages.
- Notably, he mentioned the deployment of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River, but only as part of a package that preserves Hezbollah's influence.
