Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, in a speech marking the Arbaeen observance, accused the Lebanese government and political establishment of 'shame, surrender, and continuous concessions' in talks with Israel, according to a report. He called for an immediate end to concessions, demanded that Israeli withdrawal be the central focus, and urged opening an urgent internal dialogue with Hezbollah. Qassem also referenced the US-Iran memorandum of understanding as having limited the scope of fighting, vowed to continue operations against Israel and the US, and threatened Lebanese actors who 'integrate into the Israeli project.'
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered a fiery speech on Tuesday marking the Arbaeen observance, directly attacking the Lebanese government and political leadership in Beirut. Qassem accused the authorities of engaging in direct talks that yielded 'nothing but shame, surrender, and continuous concessions' for Lebanon, and claimed the government serves as a 'support for Israel' rather than assisting the country. He called for an immediate halt to concessions, demanded that Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon be made the central priority, and urged the urgent opening of an internal dialogue that includes Hezbollah.
The speech is the latest in a series of defiant statements by Qassem as diplomatic efforts to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict continue. As The Zioneer reported on June 27, Qassem described the U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework agreement as 'humiliating' and vowed to block it. On June 5, he called direct talks between Lebanese representatives and Israel 'absurd and shameful.' On June 24, he declared that the 'axis of resistance' had shifted from strategic patience to active confrontation alongside Iran.
Qassem, who became Hezbollah's secretary-general in October 2024 following the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah, has consistently rejected any diplomatic framework that would require the disarmament of Hezbollah or a permanent Israeli security presence. In Tuesday's speech, he also referenced the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, claiming it was the factor that limited the scope of the fighting. He vowed to continue operations against Israel and the United States, and threatened Lebanese actors he said were 'integrating into the Israeli project.'
The speech highlights the deepening rift between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, with the terror group demanding a central role in any political process while rejecting the current government's approach. It remains unclear whether the Lebanese government will respond to Qassem's call for dialogue or whether the internal political crisis will escalate.
- DevelopingHezbollah chief Naim Qassem begins speech as tensions remain high
- ConfirmedHezbollah chief Qassem condemns new Israel-Lebanon framework as 'humiliating,' vows to block it
- DevelopingHezbollah chief Qassem accuses Israel of existential threat to Lebanon, rejects 'safe zones'
- StrongHezbollah chief Qassem reaffirms armed resistance as only path, demands full Israeli withdrawal
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