BEIRUT — The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah organization issued a stern warning on Saturday, indicating that if Israeli aggression toward Lebanon continues unchecked by the Lebanese authorities, Hezbollah may be forced to pursue alternative measures. These remarks by Naim Kassem came just a day following unprecedented Israeli strikes on Beirut, marking the first attack on the Lebanese capital since the cessation of hostilities that concluded the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November. The attack on Beirut followed the firing of two rockets from Lebanon towards Israel, for which Hezbollah denied responsibility.
There was no immediate response from Israeli officials regarding these developments.
Kassem had initially intended to deliver his speech on Friday as part of the Jerusalem Day commemoration, typically held on the final Friday of Ramadan. The event was delayed due to Israeli airstrikes that targeted various regions of Lebanon, inclusive of suburbs in the capital. Jerusalem Day, an annual observance initiated by Iran’s first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, serves as a day for Iranians and their allies to express support for Palestinians.
According to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which concluded the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces were to vacate all Lebanese territories by late January while Hezbollah was required to withdraw its armed forces from south of the Litani River, along the Israeli border.
The withdrawal deadline was extended to February 18, but Israel has maintained its presence in five border regions while continuing air raids purportedly targeting Hezbollah sites in southern and eastern Lebanon. Recently, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of six people and, on Friday, an attack on a southern village claimed three lives and injured 18 others, predominantly women and children.
Kassem emphasized in his televised address on Saturday night that while Hezbollah respected the withdrawal terms by vacating south of the Litani River, Israel has not held up its end of the bargain. “These are not mere violations. They are an aggression that has exceeded all limits,” Kassem said. He suggested that Israel might be attempting to impose a forced normalization of relations with Lebanon, an action Hezbollah vehemently opposes.
“Israel will not gain by peace what it failed to achieve through warfare,” Kassem affirmed. “This resistance is prepared and ready, upholding the agreement while remaining vigilant.” However, he cautioned that if Israel continues to misinterpret the agreement and the Lebanese state fails to enforce it through diplomatic channels, Hezbollah “may be compelled to explore other options.” This implied that Hezbollah might consider armed confrontation with Israeli forces within Lebanon.
“We will not allow any force to deny us the right to deploy our power and capabilities against this enemy,” Kassem stated. He asserted that Hezbollah “remains robust against the plots of America and Israel.”
“Our patience aims to provide opportunities for solutions that can ease suffering and minimize casualties,” Kassem remarked.
Following the attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza, Hezbollah began launching rockets, missiles, and drones into Israel. During the 2023 attack, Palestinian militants killed approximately 1,200 individuals in Israel and abducted 251 others.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into full-blown warfare last September when Israel conducted extensive airstrikes, eliminating many of Hezbollah’s senior leaders. These hostilities resulted in over 4,000 Lebanese casualties and displaced around 60,000 Israelis.