Hezbollah Secretary General: Stopping the Aggression Is the Priority
“We cannot prevent aggression through words, nor by relying on the American tyrant,” Sheikh Qassem said. “We prevent it through strength, solidarity, and unity.”
Lebanon, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, affirmed that the current stage is decisive in shaping Lebanon’s future through national unity, stressing that cooperation among the state, the army, the government, the people, and the resistance is what will build Lebanon’s future.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Lebanon Medical Center in the Hadath area, Sheikh Qassem warned that any retreat, defeat, or surrender would remove Lebanon from the map of independent states.
The Central Problem: Israeli–American Aggression
Sheikh Qassem said the core problem confronting Lebanon is Israeli–American aggression, noting that this aggression covets Lebanon’s economic, social, and demographic capacities.
He emphasized that the enemy harbors expansionist ambitions in Lebanon and the region, relying on force, occupation, criminality, and genocide to impose its project at Lebanon’s expense—targeting its renaissance, existence, and sovereign choices.
“We cannot prevent aggression through words, nor by relying on the American tyrant,” Sheikh Qassem said. “We prevent it through strength, solidarity, and unity.”
He recalled that the enemy was expelled from Lebanon through force, steadfastness, and the great sacrifices made in previous periods, which protected Lebanon—through the resistance, its people, and those who stood with them—for 42 years. Israel failed to stabilize its occupation from 1982 to 2000 and withdrew in defeat, and from 2000 to 2023 it remained deterred.
Sheikh Qassem stressed that Israel’s project has never stopped, but neither has Lebanon’s faith in its sovereignty, independence, and will. He said the “War of Uli al-Ba’s” halted Israel’s momentum, preventing it from achieving its goal of eliminating the resistance as a prelude to ending Lebanon itself.
He reiterated that Lebanon’s fundamental problem is Israeli aggression, and that the essential solution lies in strength, resistance, and unity around a project of confrontation with Israel.
U.S. Pressure and the Failure of Disarmament Demands
Over the past year and three months, Sheikh Qassem said, the United States has resorted to various methods to undermine Lebanon’s strength and resilience, repeatedly pushing narratives about disarmament and stripping capabilities—moves that would paralyze Lebanon’s power.
He noted that this international pressure failed because it lacks legitimacy and violates constitutional rights to self-defense. “There are those who stand firm and say no to these pressures and to implementing the American–Israeli project,” he said.
Attempts to Sow Discord Have Failed
Sheikh Qassem said efforts from the first day sought to incite discord between the army, the people, and the resistance, but awareness on all sides thwarted these attempts at inception.
He added that reconstruction was blocked under the pretext of “weapon exclusivity,” when the real aim was to create a rift between the resistance and its people—an effort that failed.
“The resistance and its people are one,” he said. “The people are the resistance, and the resistance is the people. The South is Lebanon, and Lebanon is the South.”
He also pointed to economic and financial sieges and bans on donations aimed at preventing service to the people, so as to falsely portray the resistance as the source of crises and the state as incapable.
We and Amal Are One Body
Addressing relations with the Amal Movement, Sheikh Qassem said attempts to create divisions between Hezbollah and Amal failed. He described the alliance as deeply rooted, noting that leadership meetings addressed elections, cooperation, accelerating reconstruction, and confronting aggression.
“We and Amal are one body,” he said, “with one position on the fundamental national issues, and we work together.”
Israeli Crimes Aim to Create Fractures, Resistance Is the Answer
Sheikh Qassem said Israel targets civilians to create social fractures, sprays toxic substances on crops to destroy life, bulldozes frontline villages, and acts with extreme brutality to isolate the region.
He cited an incident in which an Israeli ground force entered the town of al-Habbariyya, abducted the Islamic Group’s official responsible for Hasbaya and Marjeyoun from his home, and vandalized the area in full view of residents.
He said these actions aim to exert immense pressure, eliminate any presence or force that says no to Israel, or that could help revive Lebanon.
Addressing those who claim politics alone can restrain Israel, Sheikh Qassem asked: if abductions and incursions are happening now, what would occur if Lebanon were stripped of its defenses?
“Yes, we can act against Israel,” he said. “We must remain standing, resisting, and holding onto our strength and capability. With steadfastness there is no defeat; with readiness to defend, Israel cannot achieve its objectives.”
No One Can “Play” Between Us and the President
On relations with the President of the Republic, Sheikh Qassem said pressure on the president from major powers and some Arab states seeks to create a rift between the state—at its highest level—and the resistance and its supporters.
“No one can ‘play’ between us and the President,” he said, adding that the visit by the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc to the president was constructive for follow-up, coordination, managing differences, and confronting challenges.
While styles may differ on some matters, he stressed that both sides agree on stopping the aggression, liberating Lebanon, rejecting sedition, and advancing national recovery.
Prime Minister’s Visit to the South: A Positive Step
Sheikh Qassem welcomed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to southern Lebanon, calling it a positive and important step toward rebuilding the country.
He highlighted the prime minister’s statement that reconstruction would proceed without waiting for the aggression to stop, stressing that every step forward in rebuilding disrupts the enemy’s plans.
Standing with Tripoli Is a National Duty
Sheikh Qassem urged the government to address conditions in Tripoli, saying it is unacceptable for building collapses to continue without decisive action.
He called for swift decisions to evacuate unsafe buildings, provide proper shelter allowances, and house residents with dignity until solutions are implemented, stressing that standing with the people of Tripoli is a national responsibility.
Advanced Care at the Lebanon Medical Center
Speaking about the newly inaugurated Lebanon Medical Center, Sheikh Qassem said it is part of a long-term path adopted by Hezbollah to provide healthcare across regions—an enduring commitment, not a temporary phase.
He noted that the center offers advanced treatments rarely available elsewhere in Lebanon, easing financial burdens by charging near-cost fees.
He praised the medical, nursing, and administrative staff, emphasizing that healthcare is a mission of life and a trust to serve and protect humanity.
“We serve from a position of religious and moral duty,” he said. “Investing in health is investing in the resilience of society and the dignity of the people.” (PW)