Hezbollah Secretary-General Outlines Five Principles for Lebanon’s New Phase
Sheikh Naim Qassem thanks Iran for helping break the Israeli-American project, demands full Israeli withdrawal, and sets five principles for Lebanon’s next stage.
Lebanon, PUREWILAYAH.COM – Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has outlined five principles for what he described as Lebanon’s new phase, saying the Israeli-American project has been broken and that Israel now has no option except full withdrawal from every inch of Lebanese territory.
Speaking during the Ashura procession on the 10th of Muharram, Sheikh Naim Qassem said Lebanon had faced a war aimed at eliminating Hezbollah, its social environment, and the people connected to the Resistance. He said the aggression was carried out militarily, politically, financially, socially, and through efforts to provoke internal division.
Israeli-American Project Broken
Sheikh Naim Qassem said the recent war was not limited to direct military attacks, but formed part of a broader Israeli-American attempt to erase the Resistance from Lebanon. He said the aggression targeted civilians, infrastructure, institutions, education, social work, culture, and the wider life of the Resistance community.
According to him, the war also relied on pressure from foreign states, internal agents, political criminalization, financial siege, and attempts to provoke strife with the army, sects, and religious communities.
“We faced a war to eliminate the existence of Hezbollah, its environment, its people, and the citizens connected to it in Lebanon. This Israeli-American aggression by land, sea, and air targeted civilians, trees, stones, and life itself, using all kinds of weapons, foreign states, agents, schemes of sedition with the army, sect, and community, political criminalization, financial siege, and plans to strike educational, social, and cultural institutions.”
He said the Resistance and its people prevented that project from succeeding.
“But thanks be to Allah, through the Karbala position of all our proud and dear people, we were able to stop this aggression. We were able to achieve a great accomplishment. We declare it openly: We have broken the Israeli-American project, and we have entered a new phase. Whoever wants to act now must act on the basis of this new phase.”
Israel Must Withdraw Without Conditions
The first principle, Sheikh Naim Qassem said, is that Israel must withdraw fully from Lebanese territory and stop all forms of aggression by land, air, and sea. He rejected any formula that would allow Israel to gain concessions, retain a partial presence, or impose commitments against Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“Israel has no option except complete withdrawal from every inch of our Lebanese land and the cessation of aggression by air, land, sea, and in every form. Its aggression has failed to achieve its expansionist objectives, and this is the basic starting point on which we build.”
He said any political arrangement that violates Lebanese sovereignty would be rejected.
“Israel must leave without condition or restriction. Any commitment against Lebanon’s sovereignty will not pass, and no one has the right to sign or accept anything. The ceiling of all solutions is Lebanon’s full sovereignty and complete independence: no normalization, no cancellation of the state of hostility, no gains for Israel, and no partial presence on Lebanese land.”
Sheikh Naim Qassem added that the framework for sovereignty remains tied to the results of the November 27, 2024 agreement, limited specifically to southern Lebanon south of the Litani River.
Resistance Remains the Pillar of Lebanon’s Independence
The second principle, he said, is that the Resistance will continue with its presence, decisions, and capabilities. He described the Resistance as the foundation of Lebanon’s independence and liberation, not as a temporary structure linked only to one battle.
“The Resistance continues with its existence, presence, decisions, and capabilities. It is now the pillar of Lebanon’s independence and liberation, and it will remain so. It is this people, this land, this history, this present, and this future.”
Sheikh Naim Qassem said the new stage does not weaken the Resistance’s role. Instead, he presented it as a stronger phase in which the Resistance remains central to protecting Lebanon and preventing Israel from imposing political or territorial gains after its failure to achieve its objectives through war.
Lebanese Authority Must Choose Sovereignty
The third principle focused on the Lebanese state. Sheikh Naim Qassem said the Lebanese authority cannot oppose more than half of the Lebanese people and still expect the country to function normally.
He called on the political leadership to reconsider its path in two areas: first, by unifying the national position against Israel and rejecting foreign dictates; second, by dealing seriously with Lebanon’s economic crisis, depositors’ funds, reconstruction, and social collapse.
“The Lebanese authority cannot oppose and antagonize more than half of the Lebanese people and proceed normally. The country exists through its components, not through its positions. Officials are entrusted with preserving the country; they will be honored if they succeed, and the people will hold them accountable if they fail.”
He said Hizbullah remains ready to cooperate with the state if it follows the path of sovereignty.
“The political authority must reconsider its course in two matters: first, gathering the word, unifying the ranks, and forming one political position in confronting the Israeli enemy, while stopping the implementation of guardianship dictates and enemy dictates, and stopping decisions that serve the interests of America and Israel. We are ready, and we extend our hand. Seize the opportunity. The Resistance is strong, and we are with you if you walk the path of Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
He added that after Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese forces should study together a comprehensive national security strategy.
Iran Helped Create the New Balance
The fourth principle, Sheikh Naim Qassem said, is that Lebanon must benefit from the path of understanding between Iran and the United States as a major support for Lebanese sovereignty. He described Iran’s strength as an exceptional factor that should be used in favor of a free, sovereign, and independent Lebanon.
He linked Lebanon’s confrontation with the recent aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying the United States and Israel sought to eliminate Iran’s role through regime change and control over the country and its resources.
“This aggression coincided with the aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. America and Israel also wanted to eliminate Iran’s existence by changing the regime and controlling the country and its capabilities. They announced it, planned it, and believed they could achieve it.”
Sheikh Naim Qassem said Iran stood firm and reached what he described as a memorandum of understanding that formally declared the defeat of America and Israel.
“Iran stood firm. Iran presented Imam Khamenei as a symbol, a banner, a light, guidance, revolution, and mobilization, together with its leaders, its people, its civilians, and its great sacrifices. Through this, it was able to stand and remain steadfast. It was able to reach the memorandum of understanding, which is an official declaration of the defeat of America and Israel. Today, Iran is making the future not only for itself, but for the region.”
He said Hizbullah and Iran cooperated during the aggression and broke the project together.
“We cooperated with Iran during the period of aggression and confronted it together. We broke the project together. They wanted us isolated and divided, but we acted as an Axis, and this is a natural right.”
He then openly thanked Iran and said Hezbollah would remain with it.
“Thank you, Iran. Thank you, Iran, so that this gratitude enters sick souls and defeats them with their regret. Thank you, Iran, and we will remain with you. We want you by our side, and we want to be in unity of condition, because it has become clear that your strength, together with the strength of the Resistance fighters in the field, helps create the appropriate balance that moves us into the new phase: the phase of breaking the Israeli project in preparation for removing the Israeli entity from our land.”
Reject Foreign Pressure and Normalization
The fifth principle, Sheikh Naim Qassem said, is that Lebanon must stop Arab and foreign states from pushing it toward sedition, reconciliation with Israel, or policies serving Israeli interests. He said Lebanon should instead cooperate with countries willing to help rebuild the country, restore sovereignty, strengthen the army, and pressure Israel to withdraw.
“Keep away the hands of Arab and foreign states that pressure you to drag you toward sedition, reconciliation with Israel, or Israel’s interests. Cooperate to the maximum with Arab and foreign states that help Lebanon in its sovereignty and reconstruction.”
He rejected formulas that condition aid on disarming the Resistance.
“Do not let some states come and tell you: remove the weapons and we will help you. This is Israel’s project. We want those who support us for our sovereignty, not those who support Israel under the pretext of our sovereignty.”
Sheikh Naim Qassem said Lebanon welcomes any Arab or foreign role that supports reconstruction, sovereignty, the Lebanese army, and the removal of Israel from Lebanese land.
Palestine Remains the Compass
At the end of his address, Sheikh Naim Qassem saluted Gaza and Palestine, saying the sacrifices of the Palestinian people remain the central symbol of freedom, dignity, and liberation.
“We must salute the people of Gaza and Palestine. O honorable and generous sacrificers, the world has wronged you, but the blood of your martyrs and the sacrifices of your people will remain the central title of freedom, dignity, and liberation. We are with you. Palestine and the liberation of Palestine will remain the compass.”
He also saluted Yemen and Iraq for standing with Palestine, Lebanon, and the Axis of Resistance.
“A salute to the dear and sacrificing Yemeni people, the honorable leadership, and the armed forces who stood firm when the world abandoned Palestine, Lebanon, and the Axis of Resistance, despite all their difficulties and conditions. These are honorable people who know where the truth is.”
Sheikh Naim Qassem concluded that the people of truth will ultimately prevail, reaffirming the Ashura slogan of steadfastness: “Far from us is humiliation.” (PW)