'Choice of resistance' enabled the liberation of the South, says Hezbollah

Hezbollah emphasized the importance of the "choice of resistance [...] which enabled the liberation of the [Lebanese] land," in a statement published Thursday following its weekly meeting.

This statement comes a few days before the 25th anniversary of the Israeli army's withdrawal from South Lebanon on May 25, 2000, after years of occupying this region since the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). Supported by Hezbollah, the "Resistance and Liberation Day" was established to commemorate this withdrawal.

"Today, parts of the country are occupied after the latest Zionist aggression. Given the shortcomings of the international community [...] to compel the enemy to respect resolution 1701 [of the U.N.] while Lebanon complies, Lebanon and the Lebanese have the right to defend themselves and their sovereignty and lands. This proves the necessity and effectiveness of resistance," the party stated.

The commemoration of May 25 comes this year as the Israeli army continues to occupy five positions it considers "strategic" in southern Lebanon, from which it was supposed to completely withdraw after its ground offensive launched in September 2024, as part of the escalation of the conflict with Hezbollah. Israeli aviation and artillery fire almost daily on southern Lebanon and, despite the cease-fire of Nov.27, 2024, the Israeli army has also bombed in recent months the Bekaa and three times the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Hezbollah called to "reject the normalization projects with the Israeli occupation" and urged Lebanese officials to "arm themselves with wisdom and courage to serve the country's interests, away from American administration pressures serving the interests of the Israeli enemy."

"We insist on the necessity for the government to place the [American] administration in front of its responsibilities regarding the respect of the cease-fire and the ongoing occupation and daily attacks preventing the Lebanese from rebuilding their homes," Hezbollah added.

On Wednesday, Israeli drone strikes killed three people in southern Lebanon, including a Hezbollah "weapons production expert."

Regarding the municipal election results in Beirut, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and North Lebanon, the party expressed "pride in the resistance public who responded positively to the [candidates] of the national duo Amal-Hezbollah," echoing remarks by Nabih Berri, the chief of Amal and Parliament Speaker, who referred to the Amal-Hezbollah duo as "national" and not "Shiite" on Tuesday.

On Saturday, the last round of municipal elections is scheduled in southern Lebanon, one of the regions most affected by the war with Israel and a Hezbollah stronghold. Two days before this vote, the party called on voters to vote for them and Amal, "which will ensure a guarantee for the inhabitants, particularly regarding the reconstruction of their villages." So far, dozens of municipal councils have been elected unopposed in this region.