AiBotBEIRUT, Lebanon – In a stern rebuke to Israel, Hezbollah Secretary-General’s Deputy, Sheikh Naim Qassem, stated unequivocally on Tuesday that the Jewish state has no option but to fully withdraw from Lebanese territories and cease its military incursions across land, sea, and air borders.
Qassem asserted, “The Israeli military occupation and their presence in our lands is a grave injustice” that will not be tolerated indefinitely. The Hezbollah leader emphasized, “There’s no room for debate; Israel’s withdrawal is an imperative necessity.” He warned Israel to withdraw immediately and put an end to its aggressive activities in the air, sea, and on land to maintain regional stability.
Over the years, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have remained high due to multiple incidents, and the ongoing disputes over the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba, and other contested territories near the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms region have heightened tensions. This escalation has resulted in repeated airstrikes from both sides in Lebanon.
The recent Israeli actions have sparked condemnation from Hezbollah and Lebanon. The Lebanese government has accused Israel of “daily aggressions,” which it deems to be a continuous threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had earlier vowed to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty at all costs during a speech in Beirut earlier this year, which followed another Israeli airstrike that damaged a Lebanese army post near the southern town of Kalaat Matta. The Hezbollah leader stated that his movement is prepared for “varied battles” with Israel.
While international efforts attempt to stabilize the region and address the underlying conflicts, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah persist. Qassem reiterated the determination of Lebanon’s militant group, “Hezbollah is firm on defending Lebanon’s right to sovereignty” and will maintain a vigilant stance to ensure regional stability and security.
The escalating regional rivalry highlights a deepening divide between Lebanon, which has a fragile coalition government and an embattled relationship between major parties such as Hezbollah and the Future Movement, and a hard-line Israeli government keen to maintain military control and assert its authority over its neighbor.
Hezbollah’s stance is not new, and its longstanding position of resistance to Israeli occupation and aggression has long been a cornerstone of Lebanon’s complex history and conflict dynamics.
Tensions remain high in the region and, with little diplomatic progress achieved to resolve longstanding disputes between the parties involved, international observers fear any miscalculation could set off a broader conflict.