Beirut, Lebanon – Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, affirmed that the current phase represents a decisive turning point in the course of the conflict. He emphasized that what is happening today is not merely a passing confrontation, but rather a battle to defend the land, the right, and existence against what he described as attempts to impose new realities by force.
In a statement that carried a clearly escalatory tone, Qassem said that the resistance is waging this phase from a position of legitimate defense, defending sovereignty and dignity, in light of escalating military and political pressures and the widening scope of threats targeting Lebanon and the entire region. He added that what is being plotted is not limited to borders or maps, but extends to affect identity, independent decision-making, and the future of nations.
He explained that the resistance, despite the complexities of the regional and international landscape, still holds the initiative and accurately interprets the shifts. He also affirmed that miscalculations by the adversaries could push the region into further tension. He further clarified that betting on breaking the will or exhausting the home front is a “losing bet.”
The Deputy Secretary-General pointed out that the current phase necessitates internal cohesion and public awareness of the magnitude of the challenges, noting that confrontation is not waged solely with weapons. Rather, it is fought with patience, awareness, and a unified political stance, at a time when attempts at pressure, siege, and threats of escalation are proliferating.
Naim Qassem’s statements come amidst a notable escalation on multiple fronts. There is an exchange of political and military messages in the region, reflecting the sensitivity of the current phase and the potential for it to slide into more complex situations, amidst international warnings of a widening conflict.
Qassem concluded by emphasizing that the option of resistance, as he put it, “is not a political luxury.” It is a necessity imposed by the realities on the ground. He stressed that defending the land and existence will remain the defining characteristic of this phase, regardless of the scale of the challenges or the intensity of the pressures.
