Hezbollah’s leader issued a series of warnings that his group will intensify its confrontation with Israel, declaring that the conflict will continue and could escalate further as long as what he described as Israeli aggression persists.

Naim Qassem said his organization has no intention of stepping back from the fighting and warned of severe consequences for Israel. “We will not leave the battlefield, and we will turn it into hell for Israel. We will respond to the aggression and violations, and we will not return [the reality] before March 2nd,” Qassem declared, referring to the date when Hezbollah joined Iran’s war against Israel.

He further claimed that Hezbollah is confronting what he characterized as a coordinated effort by Israel and the United States aimed at weakening Lebanon and bringing it under broader Israeli control. He insisted that his group would continue resisting under all circumstances. Qassem warned that Hezbollah is facing what he described as “an Israeli-American aggression that seeks to subjugate our country, Lebanon, so that it becomes part of Greater Israel.” He added, “We will not submit, and we will not surrender, and we will continue to defend Lebanon and its people no matter how long it takes and no matter how great the sacrifices.”

Addressing the possibility of diplomatic developments, Qassem suggested that a deal between Iran and the United States that includes halting what he described as attacks on Lebanon could shift the situation. He said such an agreement “could be the strongest card to stop the aggression.”

He also made clear that any negotiations tied to Lebanon’s future should be handled by the Lebanese government, while signaling Hezbollah’s willingness to coordinate with state authorities. According to the Hezbollah leader, responsibility for negotiations aimed at achieving Lebanon’s sovereign goals “remains the responsibility of the authority in Lebanon.” He added that Hezbollah is prepared to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities to achieve what he described as five goals: “Lebanon’s sovereignty by stopping the Israeli aggression by sea, land and air, liberating its land through the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from our occupied territories and the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, freeing the prisoners, returning people to all their villages and towns, and reconstruction.”

Qassem argued that indirect negotiations would be more effective than direct talks, asserting that Lebanon holds leverage in such discussions. He called for the option of indirect negotiations, saying that “the cards of strength are in the hands of the Lebanese negotiator,” and urged withdrawal from direct negotiations, which he claimed, “constitute pure profits for Israel and free concessions from the Lebanese authority.”

He emphasized that decisions regarding Hezbollah’s military capabilities and Lebanon’s internal governance should not be subject to outside influence. He also stressed that “no one outside Lebanon has any relation to the weapons, the resistance, and the organization of Lebanon’s internal state affairs,” adding that this “is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy.”

Looking ahead, Qassem said that once the objectives he outlined are achieved, Lebanon would be positioned to organize its domestic affairs through a broader security framework. He stated that after achieving the five points outlined in his remarks, “Lebanon will arrange its internal situation through a national security strategy, benefiting from its elements of strength, including the resistance,” while citing remarks from Joseph Aoun regarding discussions on a comprehensive defense policy as part of a national security strategy.

{Matzav.com}