Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Sunday evening that any ceasefire granting Israel freedom of action is a continuation of aggression and will be rejected by the group. He told the Lebanese government to leverage Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a diplomatic tool, and asserted that if President Trump decides to impose his position on Prime Minister Netanyahu, Netanyahu will comply. Qassem also claimed Iran emerged stronger despite its sacrifices and that Israel will collapse from within.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered an address Sunday evening at the central Ashura council, reiterating the group's hardline position on any ceasefire with Israel. He rejected outright any arrangement that grants Israel freedom of action — describing such a deal as 'a continuation of the aggression' — and demanded a complete halt to all military activity by Israel in the air, on land, and at sea, as well as an end to destruction and no reinforcement or concentration of forces in 'occupied areas.' The speech adds a new element to the thread: Qassem specifically urged the Lebanese government to harness Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a diplomatic tool, and claimed that US President Donald Trump can force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply against his will — 'Only a fool thinks that Trump is incapable of stopping Israel,' he said.
The Zioneer first reported Qassem's remarks at 19:01 Jerusalem, when initial versions of his address appeared via Hezbollah's official channels, stating that the group would fight any Israeli presence on Lebanese soil and that any violation would be met with fire. By the same minute, the desk had confirmed the core rejection: no ceasefire arrangement that grants Israel freedom of action. In the subsequent version published at 19:01 (the same minute), additional details emerged — Qassem called on the United States to restrain Israel and vowed that every violation would be met with fire. A third version at 19:01 (same time) consolidated the full picture, adding Qassem's claims that Iran emerged stronger despite 'heavy and immense sacrifices,' his call to leverage the Hormuz closure, and the assertion that Netanyahu would obey Trump. The speech was framed by Hezbollah's official media as a central Ashura address; no Israeli or Lebanese government official has commented on-record as of this dispatch.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, Qassem has been escalating his rhetoric. On Wednesday June 17, he claimed Iran's power would reshape the regional order and thanked Tehran for linking the Lebanese front to its own fight. In another address that same evening, he urged the Lebanese state to exploit the US-Iran diplomatic framework to drive Israel from Lebanon. On Friday June 19, he denied that Hezbollah had been defeated and vowed that resistance would continue, alleging an 'international plan' to dismantle the group's influence. The current address marks the first time Qassem has explicitly tied the Hormuz closure to Lebanon's negotiating position and directly predicted Netanyahu's subservience to Trump.
It remains unclear whether Qassem's statements this evening reflect a shift in Hezbollah's operational posture or are part of a broader psychological campaign aimed at influencing diplomatic talks. No ceasefire framework currently under discussion has been publicly detailed, and it is unknown whether the group's rejection of any Israeli freedom of action precludes a deal that includes phased withdrawal or third-party monitoring. Qassem's claim about Trump's ability to bend Netanyahu remains speculative and has not been corroborated by any US or Israeli official.
4 developments
- DevelopingHezbollah chief Qassem accuses Israel of existential threat to Lebanon, rejects 'safe zones'
- StrongHezbollah chief Qassem: Iran ’s power will reshape regional order, Israel seeks to 'disable' Lebanon
- DevelopingQassem: Disarming Hezbollah will destroy Lebanon
- StrongHezbollah chief Qassem vows resistance until 'last Israeli leaves Lebanon'
Source and signal
- Internal intake