Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem on Tuesday adopted a defiant tone toward Lebanese officials and state institutions, rejecting any internal pressure on the group and reaffirming Hezbollah’s commitment to armed confrontation, while framing regional tensions as an existential battle against what he described as American and Israeli aggression.
Addressing Lebanese authorities, Qassem said officials should “explain to their people that they cannot pressure them,” questioning why some seek to “show off,” a remark widely interpreted as a rebuke of state efforts to assert authority or contain Hezbollah’s actions.
In his speech, Qassem portrayed the current confrontation as a choice between resistance and surrender, asking: “Should we prevent American hegemony that infringes on our rights and interests, or should we surrender to it and give up our land and sovereignty?” He repeatedly described the conflict as existential, saying Hezbollah and its supporters are “defending our land, our existence, and our liberation against an aggression aimed at “eliminating our existence.”
Commenting on recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, including attacks on homes in Kfar Tabbine and Ain Qana on Monday, Qassem claimed the objective was to pressure the population into submission. “The enemy’s goal was to strike the environment to make people surrender and not resist,” he said, calling for continued confrontation “with all the means of defense we have,” and urging supporters to keep saying “no” without giving in.
While denying that a specific sect or party is being targeted, Qassem insisted the aggression was directed at the entire country and called on all Lebanese to confront Israel. At the same time, he warned against internal cooperation with Israel, saying, “this enemy needs tools within the country,” and urged Lebanese not to repeat what he described as the “failed and shameful experience of the past.”
Qassem also rejected any responsibility for implementing security arrangements related to the Litani River. Referring to statements by the Lebanese Army command declaring the completion of operations south of the Litani, he said Hezbollah was asked to issue a similar statement but refused. “We have nothing to do with this matter,” he said, distancing the group from state-led security measures.
On international mediation, Qassem dismissed calls for Lebanese concessions, saying that “nothing more is required of Lebanon,” and that pressure should instead be exerted on the United States and Israel to halt hostilities and implement agreements.
He concluded with stark rhetoric on sacrifice, rejecting warnings about Hezbollah’s military limits. “Between humiliation and martyrdom, we will never accept humiliation,” he said, adding that the group would choose martyrdom if forced to choose.
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