Hezbollah Chief Warns of Regional Firestorm if U.S. or Israel Attack Iran
"We are not neutral." Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a stark ultimatum from Beirut today, warning that any U.S. or Israeli move against Iran would trigger a massive regional war. As the U.S. carrier Abraham Lincoln arrives in CENTCOM, Qassem declared Hezbollah is prepared to intervene to protect its main backer.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a defiant warning today, declaring that the Lebanese-based group will not remain on the sidelines if the United States or Israel launches a military offensive against Iran.
Speaking at a rally in Beirut's southern suburbs (Dahieh) today, Qassem told thousands of supporters that Hezbollah is "not neutral" in the face of what he called "American-Zionist aggression."
The Hezbollah leader cautioned that any strike on Iranian territory would have immediate and catastrophic consequences for the entire Middle East.
Standing with Tehran: "We are not neutral, and we stand alongside Iran, its leadership, and its people," Qassem stated. While pledging defense, he remained vague on the timing, noting that Hezbollah would "decide when the moment comes" and act as it "sees fit." He echoed warnings from other Iranian-backed groups, such as Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah, that a war on the Islamic Republic would "set the entire region on fire" and would not be a "picnic" for Western forces.
Qassem’s remarks come at a time of extreme tension within Lebanon. The Lebanese government, under pressure from the Trump administration, has been pushing for the full disarmament of Hezbollah as part of a post-2024 ceasefire roadmap.
In his speech, Qassem rejected these calls, framing disarmament as an "Israeli-American project" intended to leave Lebanon defenseless. This stance directly challenges President Joseph Aoun’s recent efforts to extend exclusive state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.