Hezbollah leader demands full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Israel has no other choice but to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territories, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Tuesday, stressing that the ceasefire agreement must be fully implemented.

"There is no option before Israel except a full withdrawal from all Lebanese land without retaining a single inch under any pretext," Qassem said during a gathering in Beirut's southern suburbs.

According to al-Manar local TV channel, Qassem said Hezbollah and Lebanon had entered "a new phase" marked by what he described as the failure of Israel's efforts to eliminate the group.

"The major project aimed at ending Hezbollah militarily, politically, culturally, socially, and humanly has been broken," he said, arguing that Israel had failed to achieve its objectives despite years of military pressure.

Qassem maintained that resistance remained the only guarantee for Lebanon's liberation, independence, and sovereignty, while criticizing the United States and other international actors for what he described as failing to uphold commitments under a ceasefire agreement in 2024.

He also praised Iran's support for Hezbollah and Lebanon during the conflict, saying cooperation between the two sides had contributed to the outcome of the confrontation.

Addressing post-ceasefire arrangements, Qassem called for the implementation of what he described as five key requirements: a complete halt to Israeli attacks by air, land, and sea; a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south; the release of detainees; the return of residents to border areas; and reconstruction efforts.

He said Hezbollah would continue cooperating with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon while rejecting any Israeli role in Lebanon's internal affairs or future security arrangements.

A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect on June 20. The truce largely held until Tuesday, when two people were killed by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon, prompting accusations of ceasefire violations.