Qassem: We are facing a major confrontation led by the American tyrant

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Saturday that Lebanon is facing ‘’a major confrontation led by the American tyrant,’’ as the risk of an Israeli military escalation continues to loom and regional tensions remain high amid possible U.S. strikes against Iran.

‘’The nation is facing a major confrontation led by the American tyrant, heading a Western alliance and savage Zionist criminality,’’ Sheikh Qassem said in a message addressed to Hezbollah fighters on the occasion of International Wounded Day. He praised what he described as ‘’the legendary resistance of the wounded … which enabled fighters to block 75,000 Israeli enemy soldiers on the outskirts of southern Lebanon,’’ and expressed gratitude to those who sacrifice ‘’for the homeland and the liberation of the land.’’

Qassem also claimed that the resistance has ‘’hindered the expansion of land usurpation and challenged the American project of the ‘New Middle East.’ ‘’ He further saluted ‘’the wounded from the pager explosions and their families who supported and accompanied them, and those who cared for them.’’Nearly 3,000 members of the group were wounded on Sep. 17, 2024, when their pagers exploded simultaneously during the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Since the cease-fire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, the Israeli army has carried out near-daily strikes on Lebanese territory and continues to occupy several positions in southern Lebanon.

Two weeks ago, Qassem escalated his rhetoric against Lebanese figures who advocate exclusive state control over weapons, calling it an ‘’Israeli-American demand.’’ However, President Joseph Aoun has dismissed Hezbollah’s opposition to disarmament north of the Litani River, as well as threats from its leader, stating that the handover of the pro-Iranian group’s weapons will continue during the second year of his term.