Sheikh Naim Qassem: The American-Zionist Aggression Against Lebanon Was Premeditated, and Resistance Was an Existential Defense
In a speech carrying clear political and military messages, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem outlined the current phase in Lebanon and the region, emphasizing that what Lebanon is experiencing is not merely a passing escalation, but rather a continuous American-Zionist aggression, planned long ago, aimed at breaking the will of the Lebanese people and stripping them of their sources of strength.
Sheikh Qassem stressed that the resistance did not initiate the war, but rather exercised patience for fifteen months, respecting the diplomatic track and giving the Lebanese state the opportunity to assume its responsibilities. However, the continued attacks and violations compelled the resistance to respond, considering it a legitimate right and an existential defense of Lebanon, its people, and its sovereignty.
Fifteen Months of Patience and Reliance on the Diplomatic Track
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah affirmed that the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2014, marked a new milestone, to which Hezbollah adhered in coordination with the Lebanese state. However, the Zionist entity did not abide by any of the agreement’s provisions and continued its repeated violations.
He explained that the resistance agreed to give the diplomatic track a chance and did not respond to the attacks during that period so as not to be accused of sabotaging political efforts. He pointed out that the responsibility at that stage lay with the Lebanese state to test its ability to protect sovereignty and implement the agreement.
However, Sheikh Qassem stressed that patience was not unlimited, especially with the escalation of attacks and the continuation of daily violations without any deterrent.
Thousands of violations and hundreds of martyrs… the aggression has not stopped.
Sheikh Naim Qassem revealed alarming data confirming the scale of the Zionist attacks on Lebanon during the past months, explaining that statistics from the United Nations and the Lebanese army indicate more than ten thousand land, sea, and air violations.
He noted that these attacks resulted in the martyrdom of approximately 500 Lebanese citizens over fifteen months, an average of one martyr per day, in addition to two wounded daily, as well as the destruction of homes, the bulldozing of border villages, and the abduction of citizens from various areas.
He explained that the Zionist entity deliberately targeted Lebanon’s social, economic, and media infrastructure by striking civilian and service institutions such as the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Foundation, in addition to targeting Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio, in an attempt to silence the voice of the resistance and weaken Lebanese society.
The Rocket Barrage: A Response to Aggression, Not the Cause of War
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah clarified that the rocket barrage launched by the resistance was a response to fifteen months of attacks and violations, emphasizing that it was not the cause of the war, as the enemy is trying to portray it.
He pointed out that this step aimed to dispel the illusion that the resistance’s silence would lead to a cessation of aggression, stressing that the subsequent Zionist escalation was not a response to the rockets, but rather a pre-planned act of aggression.
He revealed that the Zionist entity had prepared its war plan well in advance and had called up approximately 100,000 reserve troops in preparation for a confrontation on the northern front, confirming that the aggression is part of a strategic project targeting Lebanon.
An Expansionist Project and an Existential Threat to the Region
In the political and strategic dimension, Sheikh Qassem warned against the expansionist ambitions of the Zionist entity, pointing to statements by occupation officials regarding the “Greater Israel from the Euphrates to the Nile” project, with clear American support.
He emphasized that this project makes the Zionist entity an existential threat to Lebanon and the entire region, not merely a passing military threat. This necessitates that the peoples and forces of the region understand the nature and reality of the confrontation.
Resistance is a Legitimate Right and an Existential Defense
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah stressed that resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed by international laws and divine laws, as well as the oath of office and the ministerial statement of the Lebanese government, as long as the occupation continues and the aggression persists.
He affirmed that Hezbollah’s choice is confrontation and defense to the fullest extent without surrender, considering this confrontation to be a defense of the Lebanese people, the future of generations, and the sovereignty of the nation.
Criticism of Government Decisions and a Warning of a Dangerous Path
Sheikh Qassem criticized some of the government decisions issued on August 5th and 7th, describing them as a “grave sin” that weakened the Lebanese state’s position and gave the enemy more room to continue its aggression.
He also expressed his astonishment at the pressure being directed at the resistance instead of focusing on condemning the Israeli-American aggression and working to confront it. He considered that this path could lead to stripping Lebanon of its strengths and drawing it into unequal negotiations that would compromise its sovereignty and independence.
Displacement and Targeting Lebanese Society
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah addressed the displacement policy pursued by the occupation, in which more than 85 towns and villages were displaced as a result of the aggression, in an attempt to create a rift between the resistance and its popular base.
However, he affirmed that these attempts failed, and that the Lebanese people once again demonstrated their cohesion and support for the resistance, considering this unity to be one of the main factors that thwarted the objectives of the aggression.
A Call for National Unity and Shared Responsibilities
In concluding his remarks, Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that the current phase demands the highest degree of national unity, calling on all political, religious, and social forces to unite their efforts to confront the aggression.
He also affirmed that sheltering the displaced is a collective national responsibility, urging the government, official and civil institutions, parties, and associations to cooperate in providing support and services to affected citizens.
He called on opponents of the resistance to turn a new page and refrain from stabbing it in the back during this sensitive period, because the success of the confrontation requires the cohesion of the home front and the solidarity of all Lebanese.
Summary
The speech of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah reflects a comprehensive analysis of the nature of the ongoing confrontation.